If you’ve ever been on a date, or any sort of social interaction for that matter, you’ll know how important it is to have good conversation skills. It doesn’t matter what the other person looks like or what they do for a living; If you can’t hold a decent conversation with them, chances are things won’t go very far. But the truth is, most of us struggle with making small talk and keeping conversations going smoothly. Keeping things interesting isn’t easy, especially if you’re not used to it. The trick is to keep your conversation partner interested in you by asking questions and sharing details about yourself at the same time. However, this can be quite challenging for many people – there is nothing more awkward than having an extremely one-sided conversation! Here are 3 ways you can lift your game and be a better conversationalist: Hebe
Be a good listener
To hold a great conversation, you need to be able to listen just as well as you’re able to speak. It may sound simple, but a lot of people struggle with this – they talk more than they listen. On a first date, you should be listening at least as much as you’re talking. This shows your date that you care about what they have to say and that you’re interested in getting to know them better. This can be a bit of a challenge if you’re not used to being such a good listener. Here are a few tips to help you out: – Stay present – When you’re in a conversation with someone, try to focus on what they’re saying rather than thinking about what you’re going to say next. This will make you come across as more genuine and genuine people are always more likeable. – Make eye contact – This shows your date that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying and it also helps you to remember the things they’re talking about better. – Nod your head from time to time – This shows that you’re interested in what your date is saying without you having to say anything.
Learn to recognize conversational cues
– If the other person stops replying to your questions or is showing signs of boredom such as fidgeting or checking their phone, you’ve probably been talking too much about yourself for too long. You may not even realise you’re doing it! Sometimes we get so caught up in sharing details about ourselves that we forget to ask the other person questions too. – If the other person asks you a lot of questions and you’re not sure what to say, you may have been talking too little about yourself. This can be a tricky one because you don’t want to offend the other person by saying that you’re bored of them asking you questions and you want them to shut up – so be careful! – If you’re talking to a group of people, try to mix up who you direct your conversation towards. If you talk to the same person the entire time, they’ll start to feel like a friend zoning out and looking for escape routes.
Practice, practice, practice!
No one is perfect at making small talk or holding great conversations the first time they try. It takes practice, and if you’re not used to talking to people as often as you should be, it can be really difficult at first. But with practice, you’ll get better at it. Here are some ways you can practice your conversation skills: – Talk to your friends more often – If you’re more comfortable talking to close friends than strangers, focus on them. Ask them about their days, what they did last weekend, how their classes are going, how their relationship is going, etc. You can also ask them to quiz you on topics so that you can learn a few things while you’re at it! – Ask people questions – This can be anyone! Whether it’s the checkout person, a random person on the street, or the person sitting next to you on the bus, asking questions is a great way to practice. – Go to public places where you’re likely to run into people you don’t know and try striking up a conversation. This can be terrifying at first but it will get easier with time.
Conclusion
Conversation is a skill that can improve your social life dramatically. However, it is important that you don’t get too hung up on having the perfect conversation. What is most important is that you are having a conversation in the first place. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to lifting your conversation game. So make sure you’re prepared for your next date or social gathering by making small talk with yourself first!
This article is provided by https://www.gardenbeauty.co.uk/hebes