You probably know that state of awkwardness when a conversation stops and there is a pause or an awkward silence that embarrasses the interlocutors? This pause can sometimes be delayed, and the conversation as a result comes to naught. Such moments are not particularly scary for extroverted people, but shy and closed introverts get noticeably lost and upset. What if the conversation is very necessary and important? Imagine that you are in a situation like this. Calm down and pull yourself together. Any conversation can be “resuscitated” if you resort to these seven simple tricks.

1. Try to change the subject unobtrusively

Do you feel that an awkward silence is coming? An immediate change in the direction of the conversation can save you. Please touch on any other topic that might be relevant. After all, prepare rescue phrases in advance. And in case of silence, interrupt it with “home-made preparations”. Consider what might be interesting for the person you are talking to and what is not.

2. Don’t imitate your wit

You can often see a joker in a company. He desperately draws attention to himself, sprinkles jokes and spicies, brags about his stories, and even unceremoniously interrupts other people. Do not make such mistakes and do not try to disguise your stiffness with feigned wit. Be patient and listen carefully to your interlocutors. If you treat them with respect, awkward silence or moments of silence won’t be a problem for you.

3. Don’t hesitate to ask questions

When you come to a dead end and feel that the conversation is starting to fade away, throw wood into the fire by starting to ask questions. Remember that people love talking about their loved ones. Therefore, you can use the sin of vanity to your advantage. When you hear an answer to your question, you’ll get a clue to continue the conversation. Questions are always a reliable way to avoid a pause. In addition, it is a manifestation of sincere interest in your interlocutor.

4. Be a great listener

Awkward silence often occurs when people are actively talking without listening to each other. As a result, the thread of the conversation is lost, and the interlocutors no longer know how to respond to phrases correctly. So, your task is to catch every word of another person as carefully as possible. By the way, don’t forget about eye contact and track your facial expressions. By actively listening, you get a lot of information and know what to talk about next.

5. Show off your friendliness

If you suddenly don’t know how to continue the conversation, don’t be scared, as this is reflected in the expression on your face and can alienate the person you are talking to. Sure, inside you’re feverishly choosing the right words, but on the outside, keep smiling and exuding calm and friendliness. Try to be relaxed without creating awkward silences and pauses to maintain a positive environment and atmosphere.

6. Practice assertive behavior

You may very well lose control of the conversation. But this is no reason to panic either. Practice looking confident in advance so that people don’t really notice that you’re worried and nervous. Try not to rub your nose or wind your hair on your finger to hide your embarrassment. Because that kind of body language will betray you. Remember to constantly monitor yourself.

7. Engage in a tactical retreat

Imagine that the awkward silence has become completely hopeless, which means it’s time to implement a backup plan. So, the conversation turned into oppressive silence, and you can’t revive it. Then apologize politely and say you need to step away for a while. It is possible that during this time you will come up with an interesting idea about how to start the conversation again.

Source: https://flytothesky.ru/

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