Starting a conversation to get to know someone or
breaking an awkward silence can be very stressful. To start a conversation when
you have nothing to talk about, use these guidelines.
1. Introduce yourself if necessary. If you don’t know the
person, breaking the ice is very simple: look approachable, tell the new person
your name, offer your hand to shake, and smile.
2. Comment on the location or occasion. Look around and
see if there is anything worth pointing out. Examples of location or occasion
comments include: “This is a gorgeous room!”, or “Great dog!”
3. Ask an open-ended question. Most people love to talk
about themselves, and open questions can help with this. These require an
explanation for an answer rather than just a simple yes or no. Open questions
tend to begin with who, when, what, why, where, and how.
4. Keep the conversation going with small talk. This
keeps the conversation light and simple, and helps to establish similarities.
5. Synchronize. Once the other person has started
talking, follow his or her cues to keep the conversation going smoothly. Use
active listening to reflect what they’re saying and, perhaps, feeling.
6. Helpful techniques and cues to convey your interest
include: Say the other person’s name from time to time; give encouraging
feedback (by nodding, saying “ah-ha”, “wow’, “oh” “That’s amazing!”, etc.);
keep your body language open and welcoming; and make comfortable, genuine eye
contact with the person.
7. Be aware of your internal monologue. When you suddenly
feel that you’re not able to engage in conversation with someone else, it’s
likely that you’re saying negative things to yourself. For example, you may be
worrying that you’re boring, not good enough, too unimportant, intruding,
wasting their time, and so on. Try to keep in mind that everyone has these
self-doubts from time to time.
8. Respond thoughtfully to someone who remains awkward or
uncomfortable. If he or she appears withdrawn and uninterested, don’t persist
for too long. Try a bit more, and then make the decision to move on and talk to
somebody else. Also, be careful not to ask too many questions as they may feel
shy discussing themselves.
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