Part 2 Maintaining a Conversation: 1. Listen to the other person

Listen to the other person. People will naturally talk to those who listen. Everyone wants to feel important and heard, so if you want people to talk to you give them your full attention. Make sure you always listen when someone is talking.
  • Try to follow the rule, "Listen first, talk second," after starting the conversation. Once you open things up, let the person share their input completely before interjecting.
  • Show that you're listening by maintaining eye contact and nodding on occasion. You can also say things like, "Mmhm.." to convey interest.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Part 1 Striking Up Conversations: 4. Use your surroundings to strike up a conversation

Image
Use your surroundings to strike up a conversation.  You can also try working with what you have to begin a conversation. If you're stumbling to think of a question or a topic, comment on your surroundings. Look around the room and pull a conversation starter from there. For example, say something like, "I love the wood floors here. It feels so old fashioned." You can also invite the other person to share their input, which can spur a conversation. For example, "What do you think of this wallpaper? I've never seen anything like it."
Read more

Part 3 Avoiding Common Mistakes: 4. Make sure to remain in the present

Image
Make sure to remain in the present.  It's easy to let your mind wander during conversation. Make sure not to do so. If you seem absent minded, people will not want to talk to you. Keep your mind in the here and now and avoid thinking about what you're going to say next or daydreaming about something else altogether. If you're having trouble staying in the present, do something physical to bring your senses back to the present moment. For example, wiggle your toes.
Read more

Part 1 Striking Up Conversations: 3. Open with a question

Image
Open with a question.  A question is a great way to open a conversation. It gets things going and conveys interest in the other person. Shortly after introducing yourself, try asking a question.   Also, it is best to ask an open-ended question that requires more than a "yes" or a "no" answer. If you're at a party, for example, open by saying something like, "How do you know the host?" If you're at a networking event, ask someone about their work. Say something like, "What exactly does your job entail?"
Read more