"Are you busy?" "Rough day?" Would you consider things like that small talk? I don't, and it's usually enough to decide how to proceed. Being direct can mean

"Are you busy?" "Rough day?" Would you consider things like that small talk? I don't, and it's usually enough to decide how to proceed. Being direct can mean asking someone if they're up to dealing with what you have to say. I've found that empathy is a great conversation starter.