I have trouble with...

[qwe7791]

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... making small talk. I don't know how important this quality is for an aspiring physician, but I assume that doctors should have an innate ability to make small talk with his/her patients to create a more comfortable atmosphere. However, I lack this ability. I've held one or two volunteer positions and in both instances, I was unable to make small talk. Is this a skill that is acquired over time through shadowing/volunteering? If this skill can be acquired, please share with me your wisdom as I am very desperate for a solution. Thank you.

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

Interviews are going to be rough for you...

 

[vin5cent0]

I've never really had a doctor who made small talk with me during a visit, which I often try to do because I find it awkward to sit there with no one talking. They're usually busy on their computer filling stuff in or asking questions.

 

[nuance]

Have you tried memorizing a few general questions/topics that you can ask/discuss with people? This may seem unnecessary, but it could help if small talk doesn't come naturally.

In my experience, the most "natural" small talk begins by asking someone a question after they mention something they are interested in or working on. Showing interest in other people's lives goes a long way--even if it is just a few questions relevant to their hobbies or career.

Instead of saying "How are you?" when you see someone, you could try something like "How have things been going with [insert hobby or whatever here]?"

Also, when someone asks you "how have you been?" try to answer with something other than "good." Maybe tell them about a few recent happenings in your life and see if a conversation takes off from there.

 

[kpcrew]

Learn about stuff that interests you. You never know what a person might be into. It's a lot easier to talk about something you care about rather than the weather (unless you're a meterologist or climatologist).

 

[johnisles2011]

Are you a social person? I feel like BS small talking is a natural part of socializing. Maybe just try getting out more? Or, when you shadow, just try watching what the doctor does and internalize that. I think these are skills that you can develop.
In most med schools I know of, there are classes/opportunities/electives based on socializing with patients where you work with an actor and are videotaped. You might find these helpful, as I'm sure small talk or whatever is worked on in these courses.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Take yourself out of your comfort zone and into positions where you have to make small talk. The first few trys might be rough, but soon you'll realize small talk is actually really really easy. And another good tip is to realize that what people think of you does NOT matter, and if you do/say something awkward you have no reason to care.

 

[FattySlug]

I think it's easier to talk to other people if you have a lot of interests. Books, music, sports, etc. I was at the interview and my interviewer has a piano in his office so we spent some time talking about that because I did play when I was young.

Ask questions about things that you find interesting. I met this guy from NYU who majored in philosophy and applying to medical school. I found it interesting so I asked what made him major in that and how he turned to medicine. Just a few examples.

 

[idontcaureuknow]

Try going to a coffee shop and talking to the people who work there. Like a Barnies, I've had some fun conversations while getting my coffee and some where the staff just looks at me like I have three heads.

After I just shaved, and I am a 21 year old:
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were a student, the beard makes you look older."
-"haha, and here I thought I was keeping it short by actually shaving"
"........"