Do you worry about running out of things to say?

Most people occasionally find themselves in a social situation where the conversation runs dry and an awkward silence can follow. This doesn’t mean you lack social skills or that you’re a boring person. There are, however, some tips and strategies that can help you.

Six tips to avoid running out of conversation

1. Asking routine, getting-to-know-you questions is fine

It may feel cliched to ask “Where do you work?” or “What do you do for fun?” However, the purpose of these questions is to find a subject that is more inspiring for you to discuss.

2. Don’t overanalyse what you’re going to say

When you can’t think of anything to say, often your mind is full of possibilities that you may ignore as “that’s too boring” or “they may judge me if I say that”. Try to ignore this inner critic and just let your ideas flow.

3. Focus your attention

It’s natural to zone out of conversation occasionally, to get distracted by listening to something else in the room or with thoughts in your head. Try to really listen to the conversation instead. This helps to build attention and it’s also likely that a relevant comment will come to you.

4. Avoid closed questions and answers

These are questions that only need a yes or no answer, for example, “Do you enjoy your job?” When replying to questions, try to expand your answer further than just “fine” or “okay”.

5. Be honest

If you are feeling that a conversation is uncomfortable, then it is likely the other person is too. A helpful technique can be to admit this feeling and you can both laugh about it. For example, “It’s difficult, isn’t it, when you have to make small talk with so many people?”

6. Practise your skills

Social skills are like any skill; they require practice to feel natural. So be aware of your style of conversation and practise new skills and new subjects, especially with people who you feel intimidated by.

Good luck with your conversations.