Google your Boss. One of the smartest people I know just started a new job and when I asked them what they knew about their boss's hobbies and interests, they hadn't googled them yet.

After my suggestion, they discovered their boss had may of the same interests and hobbies. Knowing what people care about helps with bonding and small talk. And while these things may appear trivial at times to us tech folk, small talk is the social lubrication that really helps build relationships.