How to Keep Your Conversation Alive!

We have all been there -- boring small talk leading up to the inevitable... AWKWARD SILENCE! What should you do when the silence arrives? What are some ways to keep your conversation interesting to you and your partner?

The first thing you need to realize is that when you feel awkward, it shows! You need to be confident and prepared even in the most inelegant scenarios. This means that you should avoid obvious physical signs of stress (i.e. glancing around, shifting your weight, and most importantly do not text or check your cell!!) You need to sit up straight (if you are sitting), and listen carefully to your companion.

Thus comes the next phase, you must listen! Be engaged and interested in everything your date has to say. (This is especially helpful if you are talking with a female.) Truth be told, people like to talk about themselves and want other people to be genuinely captivated by their accomplishments, hobbies, and even the names of their cats. You should ask detailed questions regarding what they share with you. If you are not well-acquainted with the person, you should be wary of delving into touchy subjects (I like to call the three "D's") Divorce, Death, and Disagreement

So you have tried to maintain a pleasurable conversation, but nonetheless, the awkward silence appears. You should try not to let it last for an extended period of time. Instead, ask your cohort to tell you something about themselves. This can be accomplished through a discussion about their hopes for the future, happiest memory, funniest story, or anything that can not be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. If you feel as though your conversation resembles a police interrogation, you can lighten the mood with a droll anecdote about your past, or a simplistic story about something you saw on TV last night!

It is far too easy to sit back and watch your conversation be ruined by an awkward silence. Take your dialogue to the next level by avoiding overly-cliche questions and replacing them with personable, entertaining banter.