Navigating Conversations: Dos and Don’ts for Doing Small Talk and Going Deeper
You may belong to that large group of people who struggle to think of what to say in a conversation.
You want to do better but find it easier to rely on your conversational partner to carry the load. Your position may be to let them produce topics and responses so that you are off the hook. That is a mistake.
This essay addresses some useful strategies and tactics for better fulfilling your obligation to become a more robust and effective conversationalist.
Awkward Silences
Talking to someone one-on-one may lead to pauses when no one speaks or can find words to fill the gap. If the conversation hits a snag, you may worry and blame yourself.
But these silences may just be due to what is being talked about. New topics may fail to arrive, or no immediate follow-up may appear, leaving you both temporarily speechless. Don’t panic.
- If someone in a two-party encounter makes a particularly thought-provoking point, you both may want to pause.
- You may be distracted or ‘spaced out’ and need time out.
