The 6 Conversation Questions that Get People Talking
34272
Finance
Jun 27, 2007
peter1510
The 6 Conversation Questions that Get People Talking
Good conversation relies on your ability to ask the right questions to stimulate discussion and keep people talking. You can learn this skill. Good conversation questions are not difficult. They have to be things people can talk about or your conversation is going nowhere fast. Good conversations are like tennis matches, with plenty of to and fro. Questions are a really important part of that. You can ask questions for various reasons in a conversation: - Questions to start conversations - Questions to get to know people - Questions to clarify understanding - Questions to bring in quiet people - Questions to progress the conversation - Questions to make sure there's a next time Let's have a look at each of those in turn: 1. Questions to start conversations: 1. Have you been here before? 2. I wonder what the tutor will be like? 3. I like your (shirt, decor etc) where did you get it? 4. Have you had to travel far to get here? 5. So you have a child in the show?... And so on, you get the idea. Latch on to what strikes you immediately about the situation you're in and ask questions which invites the other person to respond with a comment that is more than a 'yes' or 'no'. Some of the above questions are closed questions but since they are about topics which evoke strong feelings like children and travel - they are not likely to be met with one-word answers. There are no hard and fast rules here - relax and enjoy the conversation. 2. Questions to get to know people better: 1. Do you live around here? 2. How do you know our hosts? 3. Are you here with your family? 4. What are your hobbies? 5. Have you read any good books/been to any good movies recently? 3. Questions to clarify understanding: These are useful to avoid misunderstanding which can either cause tension as you comment on something in an inappropriate way as you didn't understand - or you feel too out of your depth to contribute to the conversation at all. When in doubt - ask! Something simple like, "Excuse me - I didn't quite understand that," will do. 4. Questions to bring in quiet people: Make it easy for quite people to join in a conversation by asking them direct questions by name, but don't make it obvious you feel they're quiet. "Hey! Have you lost your tongue?" won't work nearly as well as something like, "You went to that restaurant too, didn't you? What was it like?" 5. Questions to progress the conversation: These build on the topic you're already talking about and take the conversation into greater depths - and so make them more interesting. For instance, if you're talking about sport, you could ask: "You are a fan of ____ aren't you?"..."What did you think of their last game with ___ "..."What do you think of their chances of winning ___ this season?" You get the idea, I'm sure. 6. Questions to make sure there's a next time: Oh these are goodies! You've enjoyed talking to the person and you want to see them again. It doesn't have to be a date, just a continuation of a friendship. You've probably got to know a little about the other person's interests by then, so your question could focus on what you have in common. If you're stuck, though - "How about we meet up for coffee at the weekend?" is always a good question. Whatever stage of the conversation or however well you know the person, conversation questions will always help to smooth things along and get you where you want to be in talking to someone.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available only at: conversation starters
send email to peter1510
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Good communication skill means the ability to be understood but it also means more than that. Have you ever noticed how good conversationalists have the ability to light up a conversation and inspire others to join in? You can learn to be like that too.
Category:
One characteristic of good communication skills is the ability to start a conversation. How are you supposed to start a conversation anyway? Starting a conversation is very interesting and it has been coined with so many names.
Category:
To be able to communicate verbally, even if that verbal is with sign language for people who are hearing impaired, is vitally important. Without good verbal communication skill, getting by in life would be virtually impossible. Every day, in so many ways,
Category:
Developing great people skills is a question of strategy - play to your strengths and be yourself. This is the key to making a great impression whenever you meet new people and a sure fire way to form lasting friendships that enrich your life. Then, with
Category:
A lot of things have to do with the first impression and your communication skills certainly play a great role. If you want to make sure that you make a great first impression then you have to talk properly and communicate your ideas effectively.
Category:
Don't panic. You can be interesting. Interesting topics of conversation needn't be difficult to come think of. Think about this - what makes a topic interesting? Isn't it that people like to talk about it and that they have opinions on it?
Category:
Effective interpersonal communication creates a feeling of community and intimacy where everyone's contributions are valued. It leads to proper understanding, sometimes on a deep level, depending upon the circumstances of the communication.
Category:
Interpersonal communication has a lot to do with non-verbal cues as well as what you say. People unconsciously detect a lot of meaning - and sometimes misinterpret it - from body language.
Category:
People who have great communication skills can communicate well despite being under pressure. Notice the great public relations officers out there. Despite being bombarded with controversial issues, they are still able to remain graceful under such pressu
Category:
Social etiquette in conversation is about simple good manners. What's most important is that you put the person you're talking to at ease and that they feel as though they had chance to say what they wanted to say and that you listened to them and respond
Category:
Good conversation starters put people at ease immediately. That is how all good conversations start - when people feel comfortable and relaxed. To start a conversation like that is a skill - and you can learn it.
Category:
Difficult conversations arise in our daily lives. What makes them difficult is that they tend to be the most emotional ones. It is basically because we do not know how to approach a particular topic with someone.
Category:
Questions can be used at all stages of a conversation and for various reasons, but their aim should be to bring the other person into the conversation and help them to contribute fully towards fulfilling the aim of the conversation.
Category:
Every day, in many ways, we communicate with other people. Sometimes it is verbally, other times it is through the written word, and we even do it non-verbally through what we call body language. For that matter, we can use images to communicate, and even
Category:
A person who is able to have conversations with difficult people is considered to have highly developed communication skills. There are so many difficult people out there. What constitutes a difficult person anyway?
Category:
Engaging into conversations with people happen everyday and with the right communication skills, you can pretty much talk about anything under the sun. If you want to become a great communicator then you have to think about great ideas for conversation.
Category:
So many people worry about how to start a conversation. It makes them feel anxious and afraid. Are you one of those people who keep your fingers crossed that someone will come up to you and speak because you would never make the first move in a conversati
Category:
There is a great tactic anyone can use that guarantees great conversation regardless of who you are talking to. The top movers in the world of business and even those charming people who light up any social event know this secret and you can use it too.
Category:
Once you have been asking questions for a while, you will realize just how great questions are for starting conversations, helping them flow and for getting to know someone better. Now it is time to have some fun with it!
Category:
Communication in the workplace is very important but with so many people involved, all with different personalities and varying levels of understanding communication can be difficult and misunderstandings can arise.
Category:
Other links at Finance
Wealth is what most people want. You are however required to have the right mindset in order to access unlimited wealth. This article talks about how to farm the right attitude toward abundance and wealth
Category:
Author shares about how you can learn the traits of inspiring leaders to motivate and inspire your team.
Category:
Once you have been asking questions for a while, you will realize just how great questions are for starting conversations, helping them flow and for getting to know someone better. Now it is time to have some fun with it!
Category:
The law of attraction can be useful if you know how to apply it. In this article,we talk about self-concept and how it is related to the application of the law of attraction.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
