The little "chit chats" we have at the start of a meeting or Teams call (where we talk about our weekends, the weather, our pets or the traffic) are really important. Research shows that they actually work as a neural 'warm-up' for a deeper connection. So the next time we get irritated by the small talk at the start of a meeting & push to start discussion on the topic at hand, we might remember that: - small talk isn’t filler; it’s an entry point to foster group psychological safety. - rapport isn’t a ‘nice to have’; it enables the trust needed for meaningful dialogue. - alignment doesn’t begin with tasks; it begins with shared attention & mutual recognition. Those first few minutes of “non-essential” chatter are doing critical work. They're building safety, alignment & a shared language that's the foundation for us to work more effectively together: linkedin.com/posts/nick-wrig…. By Nick Wright. Fabulous graphic & signpost to this piece by @tashwillcocks