Small talk at work has three parts: an easy opener (“How’s your week going?”, “Where are you based?”), one follow-up question that shows you listened (“How did you get into product design?”), and a polite exit (“I should let you go, I know you have another call”). Keep answers short, ask back, and stick to safe topics: weekend, travel, work projects, the weather.
Small talk isn’t filler. It’s how colleagues build the trust that makes the real conversation easier, and it’s where many people working in a second language feel least comfortable. The trick is that small talk follows a pattern: open, follow up, react, exit. Learn a few lines for each and you’ll never be stuck.
Openers that always work
| Situation | Opener |
|---|---|
| Start of a call | “How’s your week going?” / “How’s it going?” |
| Monday | “How was your weekend? Did you get some rest?” |
| Friday | “Any plans for the weekend?” |
| Global teams | “Where are you based?” / “What time is it there?” |
| Someone you haven’t seen in a while | “How have you been?” / “Long time no see!” |
| A colleague back from a trip | “How was your trip to Toronto?” |
| A new colleague | “How are you settling in? Need anything for your setup?” |
| Networking event | “What brings you to the conference?” / “How do you know Carla?” |
“How’s it going?” is a greeting, not a request for a full update. A short, positive answer and a question back is the expected reply: “Good, busy week! You?”
Follow-up questions: where rapport happens
The opener gets you started; the follow-up question shows you listened. Questions about someone’s work and path are safe and people enjoy answering them.
- “What are you working on at the moment?” Friendlier than “What’s your job?”
- “How did you get into product design?” People like telling this story.
- “Out of curiosity, how big is your team in Bogotá?” “Out of curiosity” softens a direct question.
- “You’re moving to Berlin? Tell me more!”
- “Can I pick your brain about pricing for ten minutes?” Asking for advice, with a specific time.
rapport
A friendly relationship based on understanding and trust.
“Small talk before the meeting helped build rapport with the client.”
How to use it: The final “t” is silent: “ra-POR”. You “build” or “have” rapport.
Reacting naturally
Short reactions keep the conversation alive and show you’re engaged.
| They say | You react |
|---|---|
| Good news | “That’s great news!” / “Congratulations on the new role!” / “Well deserved.” |
| A shared experience | “Same here.” / “I can relate.” |
| An explanation | “Ah, that makes sense.” / “Good to know.” |
| A coincidence | “You worked with Pedro too? Small world!” |
| A hard week | “Hang in there. The release is almost done.” |
| They’re unwell | “Sorry to hear that. Hope you feel better soon.” |
Changing topic smoothly
- “Speaking of which, did you see the new office plans?” Moves to a related topic.
- “By the way, the team dinner is on Thursday.” Introduces something new.
- “Before I forget, can you send me that article?”
- “While I have you, could you approve my time-off request?” One small request, kept small.
Leaving the conversation politely
Ending well matters as much as starting. These lines close a chat kindly, without sounding like you want to escape:
- “Anyway, I should let you go. I know you have another call.”
- “Good catching up, Ana. Let’s not wait six months next time!”
- “Great chatting today. Let’s stay in touch.”
- “Keep me posted on the visa process.”
- “Thanks, Leo. Talk soon!” / “Have a good one!” / “Enjoy your weekend!”
Safe topics and ones to avoid
Safe: the week, weekends, travel, food, sport, the weather, commutes, work projects, where people are based, time zones.
Avoid until you know someone well: salary, politics, religion, health details, age, appearance and relationship status.
When you didn’t catch something
Native speakers ask people to repeat all the time. It’s far better than nodding along.
- “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
- “Sorry, could you say that again? The connection dropped for a second.”
- “Just to make sure I understood, you mean…?”
The free Small talk deck in WorkWords has 75 of these phrases with audio, so you can hear the rhythm, not just read it. Small talk often opens a meeting, so the natural next step is our list of business English phrases for meetings.
Frequently asked questions
What are good small talk questions at work?
“How’s your week going?”, “Any plans for the weekend?”, “Where are you based?”, “What are you working on at the moment?” and “How did you get into…?” are all safe and easy to answer.
How do you answer “How’s it going?” at work?
Briefly, then ask back: “Good, busy week! You?” A short, positive answer is expected. It’s a greeting, not a request for a full update.
How do I end a conversation politely in English?
Use “I should let you go”, “Good catching up, let’s talk soon” or “I’ll let you get back to it”. They close the conversation kindly without sounding like you want to escape.
What topics should I avoid in work small talk?
Salary, politics, religion, health details and someone’s age or appearance. Keep to work projects, travel, weekends, food, sport and the weather until you know the person well.
The team behind WorkWords, the vocabulary app for English at work. Every phrase is checked against real workplace use and written with a usage note.
