I had been waiting all week to talk to a coworker about something urgent, so when we finally planned to meet at the coffee shop, I was relieved. I walked in, eager to share, but before I could tell ...

You're far from the only one who does it, so why do we resort to weather when making small talk?

I know I’m not alone in disliking small talk. Yes, I have a history of social anxiety. I mean, I once hid behind Tim Gunn’s grandfather clock to avoid small talk at a fundraiser at his apartment.

Is it rude to discuss life milestones during small talk? Etiquette coach Alison Cheperdak says that asking about ...