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Refrain from judgment.  People do not want to make conversation with people who are judgmental. During any conversation, remind yourself you're trying to learn about another person. You are not there to make judgments or assumptions. Refrain from analyzing what's being said and instead focus on listening. This will give you less time to judge, making people comfortable sharing with you.

Do not make assumptions about the other person.  Go into the conversation operating under the assumption everyone is a blank slate. Do not assume someone will agree with you or share your values. People are biased to assume those they engage with share similar values and beliefs, but this often not true. In conversation, remember you do not know how this person feels about a given topic. Debates can be enjoyable and, if someone seems open to the idea, it's okay to share your beliefs. However, make sure not to introduce a topic in a way that makes assumptions. For example, when commenting on a recent election, do not say, "That was such a letdown, right?" Instead, bring up the topic in a way that invites the other person to share their beliefs. For example, "What did you think of the recent election?"

Avoid trying to one up others.  Sometimes, without realizing it, you're accidentally one-upping people during conversations. This is often due to nervousness. You may try to bring up a story that relates, but some stories may seem bigger or more important than the other person's story. For example, someone is talking about a weekend vacation to a city a few miles out of town. Do not bring up your month long trip to Europe after graduation. It may come off like bragging. Try to keep the stories you share equal. For example, if someone brings up a modest vacation, talk about a similar vacation you've taken. For example, talk about the weekend trips you took to your grandmother's house as a kid.

Bring up current events.  Current events can be a great way to keep a conversation going. If you stay up to date with what's going on in the world, it will be easy to talk to anyone. You will be able to make conversation about things people are thinking about in the present moment. You do not have to bring up serious current events, especially in a situation where someone may become uncomfortable. If you want to keep things noncontroversial, bring up the new hit movie, celebrity scandal, or a hit song on the radio.

Change topics when necessary.  Watch to make sure someone is not getting uncomfortable with a topic. Someone may look nervous if you bring up a certain topic and get quiet. You also may simply have exhausted a given topic. If you're both struggling to think of what to say in a conversation, find a new topic. It's best to try to find a related topic. If you're talking about books, for example, move the conversation to movies. However, if you can't think of anything that's related, it's okay to introduce something new. Fall back on a general question, such as, "What do you do for a living?" or "Where did you grow up?"

Share information about yourself.  People will not want to talk to you if you simply bombard them with questions. People are uncomfortable talking to people who ask a lot about others but share little about themselves. Make sure you divulge information about yourself so people will want to talk to you. Try to make a pattern between asking questions and sharing information. For example, you ask someone how they're enjoying a book they're reading. After they share, make a comment about something you've recently read. You should also be willing to answer any questions someone asks you in return. If you seem like you're withholding information, people may become nervous and not want to talk to you.