8 question words like who, when, what, why, where and how. For example, What sort of books do you like Which season do you prefer the most etc.
: Sometimes either one of these maybe awkward or seem to be out of place or context on its own. In such situations, combine general remarks with open ended questions for maximum effect. For example, “That’s
a beautiful handbag, where did you get it This combination of general remarks with open ended question allows the owner of the handbag to talk about the day she went for shopping and her experiences.
Enquire about their pets: Talking about animals can create a common ground to speak about when there is absolutely nothing to talk in common. Don’t talk about your pet, as it maybe annoying to some people. Instead, asking about their pets is a great way to allow people to open up and talk with less effort.
Acquire adequate knowledge on current events: Updating one’s knowledge on current affairs is a good way to start a conversation or continue the conversation. When you are ready to start a conversation, you can say something like, Did you read the news
about earthquake in Nepal
Make use of previous discussions: If the person is a known individual, recollect the list of topics already discussed and continue with one of them. For example,
children, or projects or bad news that he/she shared. This gives a topic to talk about, and also makes them understand that you care about them.
Pose questions that are easy to answer: Some questions are hard to answer and make the person think sometimes, Do I really have to answer this question Many people prefer easy questions to hard questions. For instance, What are your plans for today, How do you feel working in summer?”etc.
Understand their feelings: Don’t ask questions that invade their personal space. Some people experience discomfort in discussing topics such as weight, or lack of possessing a degree or qualification etc. Be thoughtful and avoid starting a conversation on such topics even with strangers.
Wash off your fears: When you feel that you are notable
to participate in conversation, with another person, it maybe because you started telling yourself a few negative things like you are boring, intruding or wasting their time. This can leave you embarrassed and tongue-tied. Feeling self-conscious during conversation is not unusual and also not productive.
