The worst thing you can ask at the start of any interaction is: "How are you?" You're essentially telling the other person that the interaction will be like every other interaction. They'll most ...

Every encounter with another person is an opportunity to shape that relationship. The first words out of your mouth are key in establishing the goodwill we all crave. Unfortunately, too often our ...

Unprecedented times are starting to feel like the new normal. What we need to get through these times is social support. But in order to receive it, we have to stop "surface acting," or feeling ...

If you’ve ever been caught off guard by the question “how are you?”, you know how quickly small talk can fizzle out. Most people default to safe but forgettable answers like “fine” or “good, you?”, ...