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Small talk can become a very effective way of networking within the office environment, whether it’s connecting with your supervisor, another upper-level manager or the front desk associate. Small talk can also be just as intimidating as networking, reaching out and sparking conversation with those who might not have common interests.

You don’t have to be sports savvy, a Scandal super fan, or even an extrovert to begin some small talk around the office (even though it couldn’t hurt!). Here are a few tips and ideas to get your mouth going during those moments of small talk in the office.

Yesterday, news broke that the baby of the Braxton crew is going to have a baby of her own. Now we all know Miss Tamar has a mouth on her — not to mention catchphrases for days — and we have a feeling that trait might be passed down to her mini me, which means Tamar better watch out because she’s about to get a taste of her own medicine.com. Here are the hilarious things we bet Tamar and Vince’s little bundle will say.

“The turtles legs are falling off,” sang my co-worker’s fidgety 5-year-old son as he moonwalked across the waiting room with a carelessness that only comes with not knowing any better.  We had driven 35 minutes during rush hour traffic to bring their beloved bloated reptile to the vet since she had Googled “turtle dying symptoms,” dialed local vets and stressed throughout the workday.  Unfortunately, after hearing the opposing advisory of two vets, giving the pet vitamin shots and a taunting turn for the best, my co-worker found the pet’s limp and lifeless body resting on a rock two mornings later.  And that same boy who was re-enacting Michael Jackson’s Motown 25  “Billie Jean” performance while the family pet gasped for air in the next room, burst into tears at the news that Scooter was “no longer with us.”

It can be an extremely difficult thing for a parent to explain life’s limits while looking into the bright eyes of someone whose life has barely begun, but as a parent there will come a time where you’ll be forced to do so if you haven’t yet volunteered.  I still remember my father struggling to explain to me why my rabbit urinated on him before taking its last breath in his hands.  There were tears and feelings of loss that a 7-year-old just couldn’t understand.

If you’re having trouble initiating the dreaded “all things die” talk, you have to try to see things from your child’s point of view. This talk can sound completely different depending on whether you’re addressing a 5-year-old or 15-year-old. Until children are about five or six their view of the world is very concrete. This probably explains why my co-workers mini moonwalker couldn’t associate the turtle’s ballooned legs with sickness at the very least, let alone death.  Since children at this age are so literal, it’s important to avoid cute sayings that only make the parent more comfortable like “Grandma is sleeping for a long time,” which could result in your child developing anxiety issues with sleep. Children also have trouble grasping the finality of death and the fact that it occurs to all living things. To make the process easier, talk about death in a very physical way such as, “Grandma’s heart stopped working” or “Grandma is at the cemetery” instead of trying to break down intangible concepts of an afterlife.

aboutkidshealth.ca

You also may want to take a look at your own feelings and beliefs about death.  It’s important that children learn the proper way to grieve through example.  They shouldn’t be discouraged from crying or talking even if you still have issues with death yourself.  As much as loved ones may have good intentions advising, “You have to be strong for your children,” it’s important for your children to see that it’s okay to be sad, resentful, angry, or mournful, but those feelings should be brought to the surface and dealt with in a healthy way instead of being hidden. You want to be a solid source of support for your children; find a balance between crumbling into pieces and being an emotionless brick wall.  You’re a parent, but you’re only human and it’s healthy for your kids to see that.

Around the ages 6-10, children may develop natural fears about death associated with myths and stories they hear (i.e.,  the boogeyman and ghosts). It’s important to not feed into fears and give them honest, clear information about death.  Instead of simply sending your child back to bed when they say the boogeyman’s in the closet, explore the closet with them and show them there’s nothing to be afraid of.  Ask them what they think will happen if the boogeyman gets them so they have a chance to express any fears about pain and what death “feels” like.

http://madamenoire.com

In the office, communication is a key factor in getting your ideas and thoughts across. Whether it’s a suggestion for a new project or speaking your mind about an existing one, communicating with your company peers and executives could make the difference between advancing your career or staying stagnant.

Find it difficult to get your point across at the job? Take heed to these five tips on how to communicate more effectively, and let your voice be heard.

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elev8.com

Relationships are hard! Women express their concerns on a regular basis, leaving men with the option to comply. Well ladies, the men have spoken. We’re not the only one’s having issues with what’s going on. They’re just as annoyed with us as we are with them.

See what they have to say…

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How often are you sitting down with your family to eat dinner during the week? You know, Crooklyn style with all the rowdy kids gathered together, husband and even the dog set around the table chatting, eating, bonding (or arguing). Well, if you don’t do it often, today, September 26, is Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children. Why? Because by participating in today’s movement, sponsored by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, could persuade people to enjoy more family meals, and in some way, more family meals equal more of a chance to keep your children off of drugs.

I’m sure you’re wondering how. Well, it is said that by gathering up the gang, it’s a great opportunity to find out what’s going on in your children’s lives, and during that set time to dine together, your children are out of the street, away from the temptations of drugs and alcohol. In addition, these types of big family meals can benefit your whole family by improving their health with well-balanced home-cooked meals. I’m sure you know that when folks come home at different times and eat different things by themselves, they’re probably not trying to pair a salad with that McDonald’s burger they just picked up on the way home, and the last time they had potatoes was with that Popeye’s dinner weeks ago. Studies in the past have shown that eating with family can improve a child’s academic success, and keep them off of drugs, so this is a great idea, right?

Though I will say, I’m the youngest chap from a large family and we stopped eating dinner together before I went to high school. I wasn’t doing any drugs…And in American Beauty, that family was sitting down for dinner damn near every night and they were all still a hot mess. But let me stop being a Debbie Downer, because I do like the idea of this initiative because it gets people who in this tech-savvy world are so busy ripping and running, to sit down and actually talk. Will you take part and eat dinner with your family tonight? Let’s hope so!

Know people who spend their days at work, in your face talking about what they’re “going” to do one day? How they have all these big plans, million dollar ideas that are going to blow up big time? Isn’t it funny that those people are still, to this day, after all that talking, sitting next to you still working in the same cubicle? Well, it’s not so funny if that big talker and little walker is you.

Got a lot of great ideas but don’t know where to get started in making your dreams come true? Well our friends over at Black Enterprise say less is more. You shouldn’t be boasting about the plans you have if you can’t put them to action. When communicating with your bosses, or people you hope can help to take you to the next level, you shouldn’t sound like a mayoral candidate with a scroll full of promises. Keep quiet. Keep quiet with your plans until you’re able to start making something happen. If this is an issue for you, you’re definitely not alone.

To read more about what you should do to see more results and provide less chatter, check out what Janell Hazelwood has to say over at Blackenterprise.com.