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Originally Posted by soma
@ Cynthetiq, as far as striking up conversations go, I don't really know exactly how to do this. Like chatting people up at their cube. Unless I have a legitimate work related reason to talk to someone I don't, but if I do, should I talk to them about the work stuff, and include a "By the way, how was blah blah blah this weekend?". I actually feel like I know a fair amount about my coworkers, but just haven't really tried to talk to them that much.
@ snowy, Nepenthes, Cynthetiq, I actually bought those Dale Carnegie books in highschool. While the books are great, I think my main problem with those books is it doesn't give me super specific advice about how to be more social at work. It is a good book, but I really am confused about what specific actions I can take on the job. This goes back to the example about chatting someone up at their cube, how do I approach? What do I say? How long do I stay?
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You know, a conversation is a two way street so don't feel like you have to put in all the work. Yes, ask them about their weekend, about their day, about their stupid work even. Don't worry about what to say, just listen, be interested in what they're saying, and you'll come up with something. If it doesn't go as well as you'd like, then just shrug it off and try again another time. As for the duration, if you feel like you have nothing else to say and awkward silence is creeping up, then just excuse yourself back to your work area or something. And then try again another time. The bottom line is you have to get out of your comfort zone and try. There's no way around this path and there's no shortcut either. So just do it.