"Something general and meaningless can help divert small talk such as this. Oh, not sure or Enjoying it, I hope or This and that. These are empty-calorie phrases that keep the ball in the air without forcing you to divulge anything you don't want to divulge. It's also helpful to keep the context of these questions in mind. These people aren't prying. As you said, they're trained to make small talk so that customers feel comfortable. Depersonalizing the ask can help."
"When someone asks, What are you doing for the rest of the day? remind yourself that this is not actually a question designed for you. They're talking to you, but they're not actually talking to you, if that makes sense. It's also fine to assert your internal boundary in a friendly but direct way. Thanks for asking, but I'm not much of a chatter. I hope you're having a good day, though."
Use brief, nonspecific replies to deflect intrusive small talk while preserving politeness and privacy. Offer empty-calorie phrases such as 'Oh, not sure,' 'Enjoying it, I hope,' or 'This and that' to keep conversation light without disclosing details. Remember that customer-facing staff are often trained to make small talk, so questions may be habitual rather than personal. Depersonalize the interaction by viewing the question as a routine script. If more firmness is needed, state a friendly, direct boundary: 'Thanks for asking, but I'm not much of a chatter. I hope you're having a good day, though.'
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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