Awkward silences can bore your date, but if they find you interesting and can talk to you for hours, they'll be sure to want to see you again. If you're able to have a good conversation, it will help you out not only in dating, but in other areas of life as well. Here are some tips to help your conversation skills:

- Have wide interests, and if you know nothing, ask good questions
If you're interested in a lot of topics, then you probably know a little about them and can have a conversation. If someone brings up fishing or sewing or country music or volcanoes, knowing a little bit about those topics can help. Even if you don't know anything about the topic, you can still have a great conversation! Just ask them questions; "I'm not sure I've heard of them, what do they sing?". Then maybe you can relate it to something you know: "My brother just gave me a CD of some new band..." or "You know, I just read about a guy that started a business selling glow-in-the-dark pets".
If you read a lot, then you'll have been exposed to more ideas and it will make it easier to have a conversation and bring up new and interesting topics.

- Be interested in them & let them talk!
One of the best ways to impress someone in a conversation is to actually let them do the talking! People love talking about themselves and their interests. So if you can find a topic they like or are knowledgeable on-- such as themselves-- you can keep the conversation going. It's great if you can know a little about the person before hand, too.
"Do you have any hobbies?" "When did you start?" "How did you learn that?" "What do you like about living here?" "How hard is it to do that?"-- these are just examples of the type of questions that might fuel them into talking about something they love.

- Ask open-ended questions
You don't want a question that can be answered simply "yes" or "no". Open-ended questions allow the other person to respond with a more full answer; Instead of asking, "Do you like chocolate?" you might ask, "What's your favorite dessert?" Ask questions that can lead them into a conversation; like, "What was it like growing up in the country?", "What do you think of this town?", "What does your brother do?" These types of questions make them talk, and if you listen you can get more topics to talk about.

But you don't want to be an interrogator, and just shoot of questions after question, making them feel like they're being interrogated. Your questions should be related and show interest in what they're saying. And if they're open-ended, then the person doesn't feel like they're having to give direct answers. Make sure you talk and comment on what they're saying, and don't just shoot off question after question.

- Listen to what they're saying!
Listening helps them feel appreciated, and also helps you think of new things to say. Maybe they mentioned something earlier in the story, like a cousin or dog; later, when the story's over, you can ask, "So where does your cousin live now?" or "What kind of dog was Sparky?" This does two things-- it shows them you're paying attention to what they've been saying, and it also gives you something new to talk about!

- Give compliments
Don't just give any compliment, but complement the person on something that truly impresses you. If you give a complement that's not sincere, it will show; but if you are sincere, it's a great way to make them feel good. So if you notice something about them that stands out, let them know! This can spark a conversation; For example, "That's a beautiful necklace, where did you get it?

- Speak Clearly and Make Eye Contact
Don't mumble or talk with your mouth full, and looking at the other person shows that you're interested and focusing on them. Don't speak too rapidly, either. Speaking clearly and at a good pace helps the other person hear you.

- Be yourself & have fun!
If you're truly having fun in a conversation, it shows. Forget about yourself and forget about trying to look or appear a certain way; just have fun! It will make the conversation flow more smoothly and you'll both enjoy it more.

Related Links on Dating & Conversation:

How to Ask a Girl Out for a Date
Things to Avoid in Conversation
Free/Cheap/Inexpensive Date Ideas
Get Him to Ask You Out
25 Questions to Ask A Date
Tips for Good Conversation when on a Date

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