How to Avoid Small Talk With Strangers and Co-Workers

Small Talk can often be an introvert's worst nightmare. Even those of use who are not introverts sometimes want to avoid lengthy conversations with strangers or co-workers. Here are some tried and true tips on how to avoid small talk!

1. Look at the ground or your cellphone while you are walking. This will make it look like you are busy or distracted and don’t want to be bothered. If someone does attempt a conversation, ignore them at first and keep walking. If they persist, look up, and looked shocked. Try to dismiss them as quickly as possible.

2. Pretend to be talking on your cellphone. This one works especially well to avoid sales people on a car lot, or in the mall. If they approach you anyways, just smile and look away quickly – then keep browsing at the merchandise without acknowledging them. This also works if you do not want to talk to a grocery store clerk, or those annoying girl scout cookie people. Pretend to be engrossed in conversation on the phone, with the occasional “uh uh”, or “I’m not sure”… which is exactly what I am doing right now, to write this article while I am at work. See, I work with two jabber mouth women. The minute our boss leaves, they begin talking incessantly. I don’t get a moment’s peace, unless I pretend to be on a work related phone call.

3. Never make eye contact! Like I said, looking at the ground is especially effective. For some reason, when people see you lock eyes with them, they translate it to mean “I want to waste the next hour of my life blabbering about insignificant things with you.”

4. Look like you are on a mission. Walk quickly, and don’t hesitate or slow down. You can root through your purse or wallet, to further make it look like you are too busy to engage in conversation.

5. If all else fails, try to enjoy the conversation & make it brief. Although most conversations with strangers are mundane, occasionally you can learn things you never would have known otherwise. If you look at every conversation as an opportunity to learn & grow, you can never lose. However, if the small-talker is a creepy person who insists on following you to the mall parking lot, grab a security guard to escort you to your vehicle!