How To Keep A Conversation Going Without Awkward Silences
There are few things which are more thrilling than when you're first meeting someone you're interested in, you're having a lively conversation and you feel like you're really hitting it off and establishing a connection - until the inevitable awkward pause.
You can feel all of the momentum you've built up until this moment starting to slip away.
Worst of all is that the harder you frantically try to think of something to say, the more likely you are to say something awkward which practically ensures more uncomfortable silence.
Awkward pauses happen to all of us, so you can stop beating up on yourself about it.
Instead, let's look at what you can do to keep the conversation moving.
The following techniques can help you to keep a conversation alive and with any luck, keep you and the woman you're talking to from falling into one of those dreaded silences.
Repetition When you're at a loss as to what to say next, try repeating the last few works of the sentence she just finished.
This allows you to respond while putting the onus on them to continue and give you some more detail on what they've just told you.
This is a good thing for two reasons - it gives you a little more time to think of something to say and it shows her that you're an attentive listener.
Just stay focused and make eye contact and you'll come across as an excellent conversationalist and better still, you'll end up learning a lot about the woman you're talking to which you can use to make conversation later on.
Follow Up Questions One of the best ways to keep a conversation alive is to ask follow-up questions which are relevant to what she's talking about.
For example, why does she like or dislike what she's talking about? Her answers could open up opportunities for further discussion.
Avoid One Word Answers Especially for shy guys, one word answers can be tempting.
However, they should be avoided at all costs.
Instead, provide detailed answers which invite further conversation.
The same goes for any short answers.
For instance, if someone asks you where you're from, don't just say "Boston"; elaborate on your answer in a way which tells her something about you.
Steer Clear Of "Me Too" It's certainly OK to agree with someone you're talking to, but try not to leave it at a simple "I agree" or "me too".
The more open you are with her, the more open she's likely to be with you.
If All Else Fails If none of the above works and an awkward pause ensues, you may be able to turn things around by making the silence itself the topic.
It's not guaranteed to work, but asking her what it is that makes silence so uncomfortable in social situations could lead to an answer which says a lot about her and gives you a valuable opportunity to pick the conversation back up and keep moving ahead.
You can feel all of the momentum you've built up until this moment starting to slip away.
Worst of all is that the harder you frantically try to think of something to say, the more likely you are to say something awkward which practically ensures more uncomfortable silence.
Awkward pauses happen to all of us, so you can stop beating up on yourself about it.
Instead, let's look at what you can do to keep the conversation moving.
The following techniques can help you to keep a conversation alive and with any luck, keep you and the woman you're talking to from falling into one of those dreaded silences.
Repetition When you're at a loss as to what to say next, try repeating the last few works of the sentence she just finished.
This allows you to respond while putting the onus on them to continue and give you some more detail on what they've just told you.
This is a good thing for two reasons - it gives you a little more time to think of something to say and it shows her that you're an attentive listener.
Just stay focused and make eye contact and you'll come across as an excellent conversationalist and better still, you'll end up learning a lot about the woman you're talking to which you can use to make conversation later on.
Follow Up Questions One of the best ways to keep a conversation alive is to ask follow-up questions which are relevant to what she's talking about.
For example, why does she like or dislike what she's talking about? Her answers could open up opportunities for further discussion.
Avoid One Word Answers Especially for shy guys, one word answers can be tempting.
However, they should be avoided at all costs.
Instead, provide detailed answers which invite further conversation.
The same goes for any short answers.
For instance, if someone asks you where you're from, don't just say "Boston"; elaborate on your answer in a way which tells her something about you.
Steer Clear Of "Me Too" It's certainly OK to agree with someone you're talking to, but try not to leave it at a simple "I agree" or "me too".
The more open you are with her, the more open she's likely to be with you.
If All Else Fails If none of the above works and an awkward pause ensues, you may be able to turn things around by making the silence itself the topic.
It's not guaranteed to work, but asking her what it is that makes silence so uncomfortable in social situations could lead to an answer which says a lot about her and gives you a valuable opportunity to pick the conversation back up and keep moving ahead.
Source...