Awkward silence during communication: ways to avoid it

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We've all been in a similar situation. You're listening as another person tells you something. It could be just an acquaintance you bumped into on the street, or someone you've just met.

And then she stops talking and waits for you to say something. An awkward situation arises. This creates a feeling of insecurity. It seems to us that we are not sufficiently adapted to social contacts. However, all is not lost. Let's find out how to avoid awkward silences when talking to anyone.

Why is it important to be able to maintain a conversation?

If you are uncomfortable talking to someone, it's always easier to just say “it's time” and walk away. However, there are a number of reasons why the conversation may benefit you:

New information

Talking to other people can give you new ideas. When people share their stories and experiences with you, it can make you think about your own life and actions.

New friends

Every friendship starts somewhere. Think about your friends. They probably weren't your best friends from the start, but over time you tried to get to know each other better, which led to such a close relationship between you.

New opportunities

You never know what a person can bring to your life. They can give you advice, an opportunity, or new connections.

Notice the details and build a conversation around them

This is a great way to smoothly transition from one topic to another. For example, you're talking about housing conditions and the other person complains that their cat leaves hair everywhere. This is a good time to switch the conversation to pets.

Even if the other person is talking endlessly about one topic, just one brief reminder of something will allow you to move on to another topic. This helps to develop the conversation and not offend the person, because they first mentioned it.

Ask a question

Each person is the center of their own universe. Day after day, they focus on their hopes, dreams, and fears. Learn to notice this, so you will help the person express themselves and make them feel a deep connection with themselves.

You don't have to pry into someone's personal life. Ask open-ended questions to avoid awkward silences. The person will choose the information they want to share with you. For example, asking “What do you want to do after graduation?” is better than asking “Do you want to work at a law firm?” The first question allows you to answer at your own discretion, while the second may seem rude.

Speak up about your surroundings

If you feel like the conversation is getting stale, try making an observation about your surroundings. For example, if it's raining, you can make a comment about the bad weather. This can serve as a springboard for further conversation.

You can comment on the weather, the food, or compliment the person. This doesn't mean you have to start the conversation about it, it can just be a springboard for further conversation on related topics.

Involve a third person

Bringing another person into the conversation is a good way to keep the conversation going. Sometimes trying to keep the conversation going on your own can be tiring. At that point, it’s a good idea to bring in another person. It’s a chance to get to know the two people, to let them talk, and you’ll just need to contribute to the conversation from time to time.

And if they get along, you’ll have the option to leave if you need to do something else.

Share something and ask for feedback

There should be a balance in the conversation. The other person probably wants to learn something about you, but it can be tiring if you only talk about yourself.

You can share your experience and then ask the other person what they think about it at the end. For example, if she asks you if you're going somewhere soon, you can tell her about your plans and then see if she has any recommendations.

The next time you're talking to someone, try to keep the conversation going in one of these ways. Meeting new people doesn't always go smoothly, but you could be missing out on a lot if you don't.