Some people know how to maintain a conversation and easily translate it on any topic. Such skills increase self-esteem, allow you to make useful contacts and achieve success in business.
But how to keep the conversation going, if it fails, and an awkward silence hangs? It’s easy to master such skills, it’s enough to know the basic rules of communication.
Ask open-ended questions.
To support the conversation, avoid questions that can be answered unambiguously with “yes” or “no”, as this will immediately lead the conversation to a standstill and create difficulties for further communication. For example, instead of asking if you liked the film, it’s better to ask what the other person thinks about the plot. 
A detailed answer can be obtained by expressing one’s own opinion. Another person will want to express his point of view, as a result of which a dialogue will be created.
Ask questions based on the answers of the interlocutor
How to maintain a conversation with people if he is at an impasse? A good technique is to use the information coming from the person you are talking to. Having listened carefully to him, you can always cling to something and find a topic for continuing communication. If the question does not come to mind, it is enough to invite a person to talk about something in more detail.
The main thing is not to interrupt the interlocutor and give him the opportunity to express himself, to finish his thought, otherwise he might think that his reasoning is not interesting, and stop expounding it.
The setting is the best topic for conversation.
How to maintain a conversation if it does not develop from the very beginning? The best topic to discuss is the environment. For example, if you are participating in a general event, talk about it. During dinner in the restaurant you can discuss the atmosphere and interior of the establishment. At the party, a suitable topic would be music, food, scenery.
Be positive
One simple thing to remember is that people like to communicate with optimists. Therefore, you do not need to constantly complain about your failures, this will only push away the interlocutor. Perhaps he wants to relax and forget about his own hardships, and not bother with other people's sorrows.
It is better to recall the positive aspects, you can even tell some funny story. As you know, humor brings people together and allows them to find a common language.
Conversation with a girl
Young people often have difficulty communicating with the opposite sex, especially when they first met. How to maintain a conversation with a girl so as not to push her away from herself? In this case, there is nothing complicated. You can talk about everything that is interesting to both. Do not forget to tell fascinating stories, add a touch of humor to your communication - girls appreciate it. However, give her an opportunity to speak out, otherwise the interlocutor will simply get bored from monotony. If this is the first date, it is advisable to choose neutral topics for conversation. It can be music, movies, sports, weather and more. 
When talking, watch your own facial expressions and gestures. No need to energetically wave your arms and raise your voice in a fit of emotion, use the words parasites and slang.
Communication with a man
When talking to a man, a woman should remember that the stronger sex loves when they are listening. True, it is not always possible to understand reasoning about cars or computers. How to maintain a conversation with a man in this case? You can always direct the conversation in the right direction, clinging to something familiar and finding a topic that is interesting to both.
The main thing is not to interrupt the man at the moment when he enthusiastically tells, not to criticize him. Not a good topic would be a discussion of acquaintances. It is better to leave it for friends. Talking about diets is also advisable not to touch.
Company conversation
A person who knows how to maintain a conversation in the company, so as not to get a negative attitude, will not engage in meaningless disputes and criticize others. He will remember that every speaker tries to find his listeners. That is why, communicating in the company, he will try to give his own silence for his interest in the story. If several people are having a conversation, it is easier to imagine yourself as an interesting conversationalist - sometimes it’s enough to ask questions when there is a pause.
Key recommendations
If you do not know how to keep up a conversation on any topic, go in for self-study.
There are some simple guidelines.
- Practice. Try to get in touch with everyone you come across. It can be cashiers in a supermarket, people in line, colleagues. For communication, it is desirable to choose people with opposing values and views. This will allow you to develop in various directions and expand the list of topics suitable for conversations.
- Read a lot. Choose literature on various topics, as these are sources of information that can be discussed in the future.
- Keep a notebook. Write down funny stories that once happened to you. They can be useful and become a topic for communication.
- Talk with your reflection in the mirror. As you know, actors rehearse just like that, why don't you adopt this style of training?
- Overcome shyness, since in many cases it is this that is the cause of stiffness in the conversation.
What is not worth doing?
How to maintain a conversation and not cause a negative of others? There are several warnings that you do not need to do during a conversation:
- to exalt oneself, to try to show better than it really is - such behavior repels others and creates obstacles for further communication;
- to be tactless - if the topic is not pleasant to the interlocutor, it is better not to touch it, otherwise they will want to finish the conversation with you as soon as possible;
- use rude, vulgar language with slang and profanity - this is disapprovingly accepted in many circles;
- pry out personal secrets and lay out their ins and outs;
- to interrupt the interlocutor, to cut him off at a glance - this is a bad taste, which can cause the completion of communication.
Sarcasm and scientific sayings in French will also not be appreciated. It makes no sense to try to seem smarter. For a pleasant conversation you need to win over a person.
Of course, you can talk with your best friend about anything, but you also need to be able to engage in dialogue with strangers. Moreover, there are plenty of topics for communication, you just have to choose the most suitable one. To be able to not only express one’s point of view, but also to listen to another person is a prerequisite for a pleasant and lengthy conversation. If you adhere to these rules, the question of how to maintain a conversation will not arise.
