Tips for meeting people

Eight tips for great social conversations

Are you shy? Do you find conversations with new people difficult? if you do, then these tips can help you connect. If you're outgoing and love to talk, they can help you improve your conversation skills.

Match the tips with each paragraph.

Have some topics ready to start a conversation. Say something about the weather or the place you're in. Talk about the weekend - we all have something to say about weekends!

Make the conversation interesting. Know about events in the news. Read restaurant and movie reviews. Find out about the current music scene or what's new in fashion or sports.

Be a good listener. Make eye contact and say, "Yes," "Hmm," "Uh-huh," "Right," and "I know." And say, "Really? That's interesting." It encourages people to talk.

Don't be boring. Don't just say, "Yes" or "No" when you answer a question. Give some interesting details, too.

Don't talk all the time. Ask, "How about you?" and show you are interested in the other person, too. People love to talk about themselves!

Ask information questions. Ask questions like, "What do you do in your free time?" or "What kind of food do you like?" Use follow-up questions to keep the conversation going. But don't ask too many questions - it's not an interview!

Be positive. Negative comments can sound rude. And if you don't want to answer a personal question, simply say, "Oh, I'm not sure I can answer that," or "I'd rather not say."

Smile! Everyone loves a smile. Just be relaxed, smile, and be yourself.