Articles On How To Make Conversation
Many people say they struggle in this area. They can't think of things to say, they fear awkward silences, or they have trouble handling certain types of conversation.
Overall Thoughts
- Some Bigger Picture Thoughts On How To Make Conversation
- Places Where You Can Practice Making Conversation
Starting Conversations
Keeping Conversations Going
- Getting Past The First Few Minutes Of One-On-One Conversation
- Asking Questions And Making Statements
- Core Listening Skills
- Some Popular Overall Approaches For Making Conversation
- How To Think Of Things To Say When Making Conversation
- Listening And Being Interested In People Isn't A Conversation Cure-All
- How To Have Things To Say To Someone You're Dating Or Good Friends With
- It's Not Automatically Rude To Talk About Yourself
- Mildly "Selfish" Things That Are Okay To Do In Conversations
- It's Common To Not Be Able To Recall Details Of Your Life Or Recent Activities Right Away
Ending Conversations
Group Conversations
- Dynamics Of Regular Group Conversations
- How To Be Less Quiet And Contribute to Group Conversations
- How To Do Better In Loud, Hectic Group Conversations
- How Not To Get Talked Over Or Ignored In Group Conversations
- When Everyone Is Talking About A Topic You Can't Contribute To
- When You Can't Keep Up In A Joking Group Conversation
Other Types of Conversation
- Some Thoughts On The Point Of Small Talk
- On The Spot vs. Lower Pressure Conversations
- How To Have More Deep, Substantial Conversations
Banter
- Ways To Playfully Tease People
- Ways To Playfully Respond To Teasing, Bantering Remarks
- Thoughts On Self-Deprecating Humor
Socializing In Specific Situations
- Hanging Out With New People Who All Know Each Other
- How To Mingle And Talk To People At Parties
- The Challenges Of Socializing At An Office Job
Conversation Mistakes
- Some Common Conversation Mistakes
- Types Of Inappropriate Conversation Topics
- How To Handle Making A Social Mistake
- How Not To Put Your Foot In Your Mouth
Conversation Trouble Spots - Tough Situations
- Ways To Deal With Awkward Silences In Conversations
- When People Aren't Interested In Talking About Your Hobbies
- When People Don't Ask About You In Conversations
- How To Deal With Someone Who's Bragging
- What Are You Supposed To Do When People Sing Happy Birthday To You?
Conversation Trouble Spots - Difficult-To-Talk-To People
- Making Conversation With Someone Who Is Only Giving You Short Answers
- Running Into An Acquaintance You Don't Have Much To Say To
- Last Resort Ways To Keep A Conversation Going When You Must Talk To Someone
Conversation Trouble Spots - Responding To Questions
- A Few Common Questions Socially Awkward People Have A Harder Time Answering
- Ways To Respond To Getting-To-Know-You Questions You Can't Give A Direct Answer To
Conversation Trouble Spots - Responding To Tricky Statements
- How To Respond To "You're So Quiet"
- An Over-Analysis Of When People Say "How's It Going?", "What's Up?" or "What's New?"
- Ways To Handle Ambiguous Rude Little Jokes And Comments
- Ways To Figure Out If Someone's Jokes Are Mean Or Good-Natured
Conversation Trouble Spots - Traits Or Worries Of Yours That Can Hinder Your Interactions
- When Your Mind Goes Blank, Or You Can Only Think Slowly, In Social Situations
- Talking Too Much And Too Quickly When You're Nervous
- When You're Better At Group Conversations Than Talking One-On-One
- Worries About Stumbling Over Your Words Or Being Inarticulate
- When You Often Zone Out Or Space Out During Conversations
- Giving Up And Checking Out Of Social Interactions
- When You Don't Feel Interested In People And What They Have To Say
- When You Feel Like Your Boring Past Hinders Your Conversations
- Remembering People's Names
Conversation Trouble Spots - Things People Aren't Always Sure About
- When It's Okay Or Not To Say "The Same Thing Happened To Me" In Conversations
- Is It Fake To Act Differently Around Different People?
- It's Not Weird If You Have To Get Momentum Going In Some Of Your Conversations Every Time
