Kids grow up learning from their parents not to talk to strangers.
Turns out, it’s a crucial skill once you’re an adult learning to navigate the workplace, says Esther Perel.
The psychotherapist, author, podcast host and speaker said talking to strangers is the No. 1 relationship skill Gen Z, in particular, should master before starting their first job.
“Talking to strangers is improvisation, spontaneity, serendipity, surprise, novelty [and] an active engagement with the unknown,” Perel told author and leadership expert Simon Sinek on a recent episode of his podcast, “A Bit of Optimism.”
Gen Z workers are credited with both killing office small talk and also oversharing with colleagues, depending on who you ask. They also self-report higher rates of social anxiety than other generations at their age, which could keep them from making small talk with strangers.
