The Secret to Conducting Conversations When You Don’t Really Know What to Say

Do you find conversations difficult?

Are you an introvert, or just generally at a loss for words when meeting new people? Or even worse: do you run out of things to say to your friends after the pleasantries are over? Do you ever find yourself talking about the weather while trying to think of other stuff to say?

You are not alone. Many people struggle with this every day. Fortunately, the solution is simpler than you think.

Learn to be curious and ask questions. And learn to listen attentively.

You don’t always have to do all of the talking. Sometimes you could simply ask a question and pay attention to the other person’s reply. Listen like you mean it and respond appropriately because the ability to listen attentively is an important part of any conversation.

So many people love to hear themselves talk. Give them the opportunity to do so, and they will love you for it. They will think that YOU are the great conversationalist who cares about what they have to say and who is “easy to talk to,” simply because your question encouraged them to speak.

But what if you have no idea what questions to ask?

There are as many questions as there are stars in the sky. If you have no idea where to start, take a look at the list of 25 random questions below. Add to this anything you can think of, but avoid being offensive or confrontational. Remember, you want to stimulate conversation, not start a fight.

25 Random Questions to Help Stimulate Conversation

1. Tell me more about yourself.

2. What makes you laugh?

3. If you could have any celebrity as your best friend, who would it be, and why them?

4. Growing up, what was your favorite movie or cartoon, and why did you enjoy it so much?

5. Do you prefer sweet or savory snacks, and which is your favorite?

6. What are the three biggest or most important things on your bucket list?

7. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?

8. What do you love about your job?

9. Are you a cat person or a dog person, or neither, and why?

10. What motivates you to get up in the mornings?

11. If you could change your name, what would you call yourself?

12. What is the one thing you can not live without?

13. Tell me about your hobbies and how you got started on them.

14. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grow up?

15. What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

16. If you could travel through time, where would you go, and why?

17. What soft toys do you own, if any, and who gave them to you?

18. If you could be a famous person for a day, who would you be and why?

19. What do you think we as a society will be doing differently in ten years’ time?

20. Tell me about the worst nightmare you have ever had.

21. What is the most random thing you own?

22. What is the biggest gift you have ever received?

23. If you could be anything other than a human, what would you like to be, and why?

24. What is your favorite color, and what do you own in that particular color?

25. What is the one question in life you would like to have answered?

If conversation is slow, don’t feel obligated to fill all the empty spaces by yourself. If you find the silences awkward, chances are that the other person is feeling it too. This is when a simple random question can save the day and get the conversation flowing.