| Have you ever been in a conversation that just | | | | First, don't blame yourself. If the conversation has |
| runs out of steam and goes nowhere? Instead of | | | | died down, remember that you only have 50 % |
| happy chatter between two people enjoying a | | | | of the responsibility for the conversation. The |
| conversation, there's just awkward silence? No | | | | other person must also do their part. |
| matter what you say, it just sounds stilted. | | | | When a conversation starts to lose steam, don't |
| How do you feel when a conversation starts to | | | | panic. Instead, treat the entire situation as a |
| bog down and go nowhere? As the silence | | | | chance to work on your conversation skills. You |
| mounts and the words lessen, does your mind go | | | | may have to try several various strategies. |
| blank? Do you start to panic? Do you put yourself | | | | For example, try to remember some remarks |
| down for not being a smooth talker? | | | | the other person has made earlier about some |
| Most of us feel quite uncomfortable when a | | | | interest of theirs that you haven't discussed yet. |
| conversation runs out of steam and silence takes | | | | It might be from a conversation that the two of |
| the place of words. People who are socially | | | | you had several minutes ago, or several weeks |
| confident can usually get this kind of conversation | | | | ago, but it's a lead-in to something that they are |
| going again, but it does take some skill and some | | | | interested in. With any luck, you might be able to |
| practice. | | | | get a conversation going about that topic. |
| You can learn to rescue even floundering | | | | For example, you might say, "You were telling me |
| conversations and get them going again. Not | | | | last week that you have always wanted to go to |
| always, but most of the time. | | | | the Himalayas. What makes you interested in |
| First, when a conversation starts to run out of | | | | going there?" It's quite likely that the other person |
| steam, ask yourself if maybe it was time to end | | | | may jump on the chance to talk about something |
| the conversation anyway. Perhaps you have | | | | that really interests them. |
| talked enough. Maybe it really is time to go. Say | | | | As well, they will be grateful that you noticed one |
| "Goodnight, Gracie". | | | | of their most important interests and that you |
| It's not always a bad thing when a conversation | | | | want to talk about it. You can lead the |
| dies down. After all, if two close friends are | | | | conversation away from the boring, predictable |
| together and the conversation stalls, it's not the | | | | small talk interests and move towards topics that |
| end of the world. Between two people who know | | | | are truly interesting to both of you. |
| each other well, the silences can be comfortable | | | | If you practice this conversation skill often |
| and warm. They don't need to fill up every | | | | enough, you may even find that you welcome |
| second with words. | | | | conversations that start to get boring and flat. |
| Things feel a lot worse when you're in a | | | | After all, now you get a chance to improve a |
| conversation with a stranger, and neither of you | | | | valuable social skill that can help you become a |
| can think up things to say. What can you do to | | | | better conversationalist in the future. |
| start the conversation going? | | | | |