That person wants to talk about something interesting and to sound knowledgeable. Your job is to make that easy. Nothing is easier than talking about one’s self. I would go so far as to say that 99 percent of the general public love talking about themselves. When you ask a stranger a personal question, you make that person happy. Your question reli

POSITIVE MESSAGES TO THE SPEAKER • Lean forward • Maintain eye contact • Open up your arms and body • Relax your body posture • Face your partner • Nod and smile

If you’re uncomfortable maintaining full-on eye contact with your conversation partner, look them right between the eyes. Somehow,

The approachable person is the one who makes eye contact with you or who is not actively engaged in a conversation or another activity such as reading a newspaper or working at a computer. It’s the solitary person getting a bite to eat, someone sitting alone at a table, or the one crossing the room unescorted. More often than not, these people are

Number two: Assume the burden. It is up to each and every one of us to assume the burden of conversation. It is our responsibility to come up with topics to discuss; it is up to us to remember people’s names and to introduce them to others; it is up to us to relieve the awkward moments or fill the pregnant pause.