Don’t sweat the small talk!

Do you Uber? And if you do Uber, do you chat to the driver?

Since joining South Africa in 2013, Uber has grown exponentially. In 2017, it was reported that they reached almost 1 million drivers in SA, so it may be safe to say that the number has grown even further in 2019.

Not everybody is for small talk or is the type to launch into full-on conversations with everyone they meet. After all, we were raised to not talk to strangers. But if you are going to be spending a good 20 minutes or more with someone, you may want to break the ice a bit – especially if you’re stuck in traffic!

We’ve put together a couple of ways you can start conversations with your driver which may result in you not even realising that your trip has passed by quicker than you thought. We also get that not everybody wants to chat either (see the end of the article for body language cues that your driver will – most likely – respect)!

• “What did you think of the Springbok’s performance in the World Cup?”
  With many of us still on a ‘high’ from being the ultimate rugby champions in the World Cup this year, we’re sure your Uber driver has lots to say! Sport is a topic that most people are passionate about and while conversations regarding sports may feel a little superficial, they are an easy way to get the conversation going!
• “What’s the strangest passenger you’ve ever had?” Oh yes, we want to know it all! One way to get beyond small talk and make full use of the time is to ask open-ended questions. Ask for stories, not answers!  Aim for questions that invite people to tell stories, rather than give bland, one-word answers.
• “How long have you been an Uber driver?” Hey, it’s the equivalent of the age-old advice to ask “So, what do you do” at cocktail parties. And it often leads to other topics of conversation – such as what the driver did before they became an Uber driver.
• “Who are you insured with?”Not something you’d usually think about asking your driver, but it can result in some pretty interesting answers. And if you’re a MiWay client, you may discover that you’ve got something in common! Yup, MiWay Business Insurance covers Uber drivers too.

Bonus: A few body language cues for those who don’t enjoy chit-chat.

When you get into the vehicle, sit in the back seat. Use visual cues like closing your eyes, putting on your earphones, or mention that you’ve had a long day and really don’t want to talk. Likewise – be aware that your driver may also not be in the mood to chat – and respect that!

Starting a conversation with your Uber driver is about more than just passing the time to the end of your trip, you could end up learning more about people living in the world around you. You may even form useful connections – or make a new friend!

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