Introducing The Big IDEA – Bite-Sized Insights with Big Impact!
We’re kicking off a new way to share quick, research-based takeaways that can help us strengthen the Paul College community and support one another in simple, meaningful ways – The Big IDEA!
The Big IDEA highlights practical insights from the latest research in our collective fields —designed to spark conversation, connection, and positive change in our day-to-day work lives. Hope you find them as thought-provoking and useful as we do!
In this edition, we explore research that highlights the surprising power of small talk at work. Often dismissed as trivial or time-wasting, small talk—brief, informal conversations unrelated to work—can actually boost employee well-being, foster positive emotions, and strengthen organizational culture. Micro-interactions, such as chatting before meetings or exchanging pleasantries with staff, contribute to feelings of connection and belonging.
Importantly, when leaders create space for small talk—whether in-person or virtually—it can enhance collaboration, build trust, and promote inclusion.
Full citation:
Methot, J. R., Rosado-Solomon, E. H., Downes, P. E., & Gabriel, A. S. (2021).
Office chitchat as a social ritual: The uplifting yet distracting effects of daily small talk at work. Academy of Management Journal, 64(5), 1445-1471.
Have a Big IDEA you want to share? Let us know: Paul.DEI@unh.edu
