Are you a talkative person? Do you like chatting with your colleagues? Every day around the world, most people who go to work avoid making small talk with their colleagues once they get there.

Some put on their headphones and keep their eyes low. Others will pretend to receive an urgent message that requires an immediate, life-or-death rapid response, which prevents them from doing pretty much anything else, including the conversation made while people are heating up lunch in the office microwave or while walking from the entrance of their office building to the nearest bus stop.

If those sound familiar or if you’ve convinced yourself that avoiding small talk with colleagues is smart self-preservation and that the risk of saying something offensive or coming across as socially unskillful is not worth the reward of connecting with somebody, then there is a bad piece of news—your false logic could be costing you a higher position at work.

Jamie Terran, a licensed career coach in New York City, said that small talk between colleagues builds rapport, which builds trust. “Rapport is the feeling that allows you to extend the deadline, or overlook smaller mistakes because it makes your colleagues to remember that we’re only human,” she added.

However, many people underestimate how much their conversation partners like them. But it’s not necessary. Imagine that after you have an awkward small talk with your colleague, do you think that the colleague you just talked with is a terrible conversationalist? No. You just feel bad about yourself. And you colleague feels the same about himself or herself.

If you’re generally anxious in social situations, Terran suggested coming up with questions or stories from which you can pull. “Whether or not you share personal information about yourself is up to you, but discussing things you truly care about always works,” she said. “Topics related to your professional field, for example, the sports you do well, is a great place to start.”

【小题1】How do most people avoid chatting with their colleagues?

A．By asking their colleagues to stay far away.

B．By getting themselves occupied on purpose.

C．By reading something unrelated to their work.

D．By devoting themselves fully to the deadlines.

【小题2】What may people lose if they avoid small talk with colleagues?

A．Smart self-preservation.	B．Trust in their colleagues.
C．Professional and social skills.	D．A chance for job promotion.

【小题3】What do people worry about after an awkward chat with their colleagues?

A．Their colleagues will overwork their efforts.	B．They are likely to make more big mistakes.
C．Their colleagues may think poorly of them.	D．They will lose heart during the coming days.

【小题4】What does Jemie Terran strongly about making small talk?

A．Making up funny stories about others.	B．Talking about something you are good at.
C．Choosing serious topics for discussion.	D．Sharing private information about yourself.