There are situations when you need to maintain a conversation with a person you see for the first time. Not only do you have to start a conversation somehow, but you also have to continue it somehow. It's even worse if you have to conduct a dialogue with an absolutely uninteresting interlocutor. What to do when the conversation, to put it mildly, does not stick?
Look around. What surrounds you at this moment? Any phrase can become a stick that kindles the fire of conversation: about the design of the room in which you are, about what is happening outside the window, or even the question "what is the password for wi-fi".
A classic example: "It's beautiful weather today, isn't it?". The main thing is to be positive and in no case complain. When you see a person for the first time, this is not the best time to express any negativity.
To be aware of the events taking place in the world means to be able to maintain a conversation with anyone. Before the meeting, it is not superfluous to review the information summaries for the day or the last week.
They will become a real "lifeline" of your conversation. If an awkward pause suddenly occurs, you can choose an event and ask the interlocutor's opinion about it. At the very least — to tell the details and enlighten the same person about what is happening in the world.
You should try to ask such questions so that you can get extensive answers to them. Suitable options such as: "what are you interested in" or "what do you do in life".
Such questions help a person to focus on a single object. It can be home, work, family, hobby. The interlocutor feels more relaxed, talking on familiar and close topics.
Asking questions that simply "yes" or "no" will not answer, you get an additional advantage. All that is required is to listen carefully to the interlocutor. Since on the basis of the received answer, it will be possible to form new leading questions.
If the "partisan" continues to stubbornly remain silent, it's time to show your own initiative. We begin to bombard the interlocutor with questions in order to find out as much information about him as possible: about his hobbies, interests, worldview, habits.
It's no secret that each of us likes to amuse his ego, so he is unlikely to refuse to talk about his beloved once again. Here are some good questions: "What books do you read?", "The most visited Internet resources?", "What are you interested in?". They will help you learn a lot about a person and bring the conversation out of the pit of silence.
Listen to the interlocutor and "play along" with him. If he's trying to joke, even if it's not funny, at least smile. You don't need to show crazy delight if you don't care who won Chelsea or Spartak, but it's not so difficult to raise your eyebrows a little.
However, there is a downside to this coin. There are some comrades who, as soon as you start listening to them attentively, abruptly change the topic of conversation or fall silent altogether. Thus, an awkward pause may occur again.
What to do when all efforts to maintain a conversation come to naught?
Means not fate. You can relax and state this fact with a calm soul with the phrase a la: "Let's have garlic: the conversation is not going well today." Of course, this is an extreme measure. But it can work!
Personally, I will take this interesting method to myself. And you?
