5 Ways You Can Keep a Conversation Going

You’re at a party and your friend introduces you to someone new. The conversation is going very well — until your mutual friend leaves to grab some drinks. You and this other person try to fill the dead air, but you eventually run out of things to say.

It’s unnerving to be placed in a situation like this when you have no idea how to avoid the uncomfortable silence.

Holding a great conversation is an art that takes time to master, but you can start off with these simple tips:

1. Be Welcome to Small Talk

Small talks aren’t always done out of politeness. There are some people who want to get to know you better, whether as a friend or as a potential partner.

Start with what you know you have in common. From there, it’ll be easier for the conversation to keep going.

But remember, don’t keep the talk small. Go into deeper, more interesting topics as you go along. Therefore, you can begin by bringing up trivialities like how nice her hair is. But move into deeper things like her passions, hobbies, and unique opinions.

2. Be Interested In What They Have to Say

Imagine being an introvert at a social gathering. You finally gather up the courage to speak to someone, but they quickly shut you down the moment you talk about something you like. This discourages you from continuing the conversation.

To hold a conversation well, you have to be genuinely interested in what others have to say. If they passionately talk to you about their interests, try to keep up the same energy. They will greatly appreciate your effort to hear them out.

3. Don’t Monopolize the Conversation

The key to a good conversation is giving each other the chance to speak up. You have to keep them interested in knowing more without overwhelming them with information. Otherwise, they’ll lose track of the conversation and nod along without understanding anything.

4. Be a Good Listener

You can’t be a good conversationalist if you aren’t a good listener. It will be hard to keep track of the conversation and respond if you aren’t paying attention. If you were to be found out, they might think that you don’t care or that you're not the least bit attracted to them.

People genuinely appreciate it when you remember the things they talked to you about. It shows how well you pay attention to what they say instead of feigning interest.

5. Be Tactful

You have to be honest but cautious with what you say. You might offend them if you don’t.

You don’t know this person just yet — and they might not be easy to adapt to your sense of humor. Make sure to keep a friendly atmosphere. They might drop the conversation if it gets really bad.

6. Ask Open Ended Questions

Don’t ask “yes” or “no” questions. You won’t get anywhere by doing that and it’s guaranteed to cut the conversation short.

Try asking questions that require elaboration. It’s easier to keep the conversation flowing when they have a lot to say in their mind. This also helps you better understand the person you are talking to.

But if you can’t help but ask a “Yes or no” question, you can follow it up with an open-ended question.

If All Else Fails, You Can Stop Trying

There’s nothing you can do if someone just isn’t interested in talking. All you can do is respect their boundaries and give them the space they want.

At the very least, you can manage to hold a conversation with others. It’s a life skill you can use everywhere, especially when going on a date.