To summarize here are five basic techniques for a successful
conversation:
LISTEN WITH INTEREST. One should be
interested
or appear
interested in what the other person is saying. This is a basic technique. In listening, one should look at the person’s eyes and face, not at objects like those that surround you or the person’s attire, shows, etc…one can also show interest by giving comments or questions every now and then.
BE YOURSELF. Being as natural as you can be helps a lot in creating a good
conversation. You are more comfortable because you are not pretending to be somebody else. Being you makes the conversation flow in a natural manner. To pretend to be different from what you are will never lead to an effective conversation, though it may be good in the start. After discovering your true identity, the other person may not want to converse with you again.
FIND COMMON GROUND. One should look for a common ground, some experience or interest common to both persons. Once a common round is found, conversation starts and moves from there. The problem with this technique is that people prefer to talk about themselves. If this happens, starting a conversations can hardly be achieved. “talking in the other person’s backyard” would be one of the solutions to find a common ground. The simply means looking for a interesting to both conversationalists.