Everyone dreads the awkwardness following a period of a long silence in the middle of a conversation. Contrary to popular belief, silence isn’t the most significant challenge— it’s knowing how to recover from it.
It’s common for conversations to have starts and stops, especially when you don’t know the other person well. If you’re wondering how to get things going when messaging, check out our article on how to start a WhatsApp conversation with a guy.
Below are a few more ways to keep a conversation engaging for everyone.
Find Ways to Bring Up Your Favorite Topics
If you and your crush talk about topics that interest both of you, you’re unlikely to run out of things to discuss. Even if a lull happens, by keeping these topics in mind, you’ll always have a way back to a good conversation. Some things to discuss are hobbies, sports, music, and movies. You can also engage him on a current or future project he’s undertaking.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
When you’re looking for how to start a juicy conversation with a guy, remember that being interested keeps people interested. You don’t want to be the only one contributing to the conversation—this can be boring and rude, and people will eventually become disengaged. Open-ended questions allow your crush to explain his thoughts and feelings in depth instead of with a simple yes or no.
It’s not a matter of what you ask but rather how. For example, asking, “Do you love this movie?” can lead to a single yes or no. Whereas, the question, “What do you think about this movie,” prompts a deeper answer, helping keep the conversation flowing.
Say the First Thing That Comes to Mind
One of the stumbling blocks to a flowing conversation is not that we don’t have things to say but that we’re afraid of being judged. It can help to think about having a conversation with your crush as if you’re speaking to a close friend. Even if you say something silly, embrace the silliness and be willing to laugh.
Don’t Fret About Ending the Silence
Most people get anxious about silence because they’re too focused on finding ways to end it. If the conversation stalls, stay put instead of pretending to look for something to say. Let things unfold. The other party can pick up the pieces and keep the conversation going.
If you want some tips in your back pocket for the next potentially uncomfortable silence, read our post on how to spice up a boring chat.
Practice Makes Perfect
Keeping conversations going requires lots of practice. Speaking with your family and friends can help sharpen your communication skills, but it may require that you get out of your comfort zone by speaking to strangers to gain confidence.
Conclusion
Don’t be hard on yourself when a good conversation suddenly dries up. If the silence is because the other person is refusing to participate, you should consider ending it there. But you should only leave if you’ve tried to salvage the situation. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you work, the easier it becomes to have meaningful conversations.
