13 Tips to Make Conversation Interesting

Good conversations are important the key to good relationships. If you engage in interesting and meaningful conversations with people, it will make you close to them. Not everyone has the wit and charm to keep conversations lively. Fortunately, there are many ways to get better at talking to people and pique their interest. Be skilled at making the conversation interesting through OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS.

Have you ever realized that opening some of those questions—ones that do not have yes or no answers—really spark up interesting conversations? It's as if you will open a completely different world of thoughts and feelings. Opened questions bring about a realization, help to find the answers, and let a person eventually utter out his stories and ideas. What is more, this kind of questioning helps us connect with others on a deep level. Instead of just talking about superficial stuff, we get to the heart of the matter. That is like peeling layers of an onion, where you discover a new experience each time. Besides, our asking of open questions shows our care for what the other person needs to tell us. Asking these questions puts them up front in a very non-threatening way and allows people just to open up and be themselves, thus embedding trust and understanding between us. Next time you are chatting with someone, throw in an open-ended question now and then. You will be surprised at some of the amazing conversations that really do happen!

Photo: Collected 

Listen Actively

When you're listening to the conversation, it is critically important. It is not merely hearing what they say; rather, it is showing that you really care about the things they think and feel. Good listening allows another person to feel that they can express their thoughts, feel accepted, and know that they matter. To listen effectively to someone, we need to take our concentrate on the speaking person and try to avoid distraction. Give them your full attention and look into their eyes as you do it, meaning you are really with them. This will create the feeling that they are respected, seeing that you treat them with importance; otherwise, for sure, they will notice that what they are saying means nothing to you. With the help of body language, nodding and smiling are also possible as small expressions of attending and being interested in what is being said. These tiny gestures are what make the other person feel that you are listening to them and want them to continue. While listening, do not tend to interrupt and jump onto your own ideas. A person should be allowed to finish before you start speaking. In that way, they say what they meant to say and be sure you are actually listening. Pay attention to the way a person speaks and acts to notice his feelings. Listen for the feeling behind the words: try to understand where they are coming from. Repeat back what they have said, so they understand you really did get it. By listening well, we begin to create an atmosphere where people will feel safe and supported to share their thoughts and feelings. It helps one build trust, empathy, and more powerful connections with other people. So, let us all try to become better listeners and have a view in which everybody feels heard and their views are valued.

Share Your Own Experiences

If you share your own stories and experiences with others, sometimes that is so cool to bond with each other and understand more about that particular thing. When we open up and talk about our own experiences, it helps us to be more real and show that we're a part of the conversation, not just watching from the sidelines. It can make us seem more human and help the other person see a different side of us, which can break down walls and build trust. Any personal sharing should be appropriate and something that the other party can correlate with easily. This would likely make your connection sound, therefore getting to understand each other better. Also, respect the feelings of another, so your story isn't out of place. In addition, the sharing of experiences may actually make another person realize that he or she is not alone in this difficult time. Talk of a similar challenge or struggle may make one supportive, showing he or she gets what's going on, and that can be very propping of knowledge that someone else has been there too. Mostly, your story will inspire and motivate others. Their best stories will most likely be the ones of your success stories, your failures, and all the lessons learned in between. It can create some really cool discussions and let them see through a different lens. Remember, it is very important to hear the other person's stories as well. Make sure it's about the other person and what they have been through—not really about you. Show interest and share your supportive nature as they also share their stories. As social creatures, sharing personal stories allows us to relate ourselves with others and engage in meaningful conversations. It simply means that, as a result of this story-sharing process, you are putting yourself out there, being empathetic about other experiences, and holding space for everyone involved. So go ahead and share your stories – you never know how much of an impact they might have!

Use Humor

Humor is to the art of conversations as a magic wand: if we use it in the right way, it has the power to make everybody feel great and close. Adding humor to our chats makes everything more playful and light. It can help us be comfortable and relaxed to have a good time together. Above all, just loosen up and enjoy each other's company. Humorous jokes and fine comments can transform everyone, for a moment, into people beaming with smiles, laughter, and feeling like a part of a team. The use of humor also draws better memory and interest to our talks. If we can laugh with or at each other, it creates a bond right there that more often than not leaves a good impression. Makes our talks more fun, and we want more and more chit-chat with that person. But we must be careful with our jokes. What is funniest to one person may not be to another, so we must know who we are talking to and what they like. We had best avoid mean or hurtful jokes and really just deal with ones that everybody finds funny. Also, making fun of ourselves is a surefire way to connect others to us. It suggests that we are modest and receptive, and this may bring us closer to others. It creates a real and strong bond with others when we can joke in a friendly way about ourselves. The use of humor in our talks can make them special. It creates happiness and togetherness within all of us. Let's use humor the right way and share some giggles with others. Laughter is understood by everyone, states French; it is a language that can unite us all together.

Avoid Dominating the Conversation

You will want to make sure, when you're talking with someone, that everyone feels included and heard during the conversation. You don't want to be the only one talking or making all of the decisions. It's about creating a space where all thoughts and opinions are valued. One way to ensure that you are not taking over is through genuinely listening to the person. Listen to them, maintain eye contact, nod, and let them know you are responding to what they say. Let them know you actually care for what they are saying. You can also ask open-ended questions. This means asking questions that need more than a 'yes' or 'no' for an answer. What that does is open space for another person to say more about their thoughts and feelings; the conversation may be more interesting and inclusive. It is also important that you mind how much you talk; do not go on talking for too long but give others a chance to say something. If you notice that you've been talking a lot, just stop and give space to others. Remember that everyone's idea is of importance, even the one different from your own. Allow the opportunity for others to hear different perspectives, and just encourage the other person to express every idea. You can create an environment of safety and inclusion with everyone, which in turn will help generate more meaningful conversations and connections with others.

Have Curiosity.

It's very sick to be interested in the things people like to do and they're into. When you get interested in what a person is interested in or what they are passionate about, it helps a lot in relating to them and making better conversations at an important level. One way to show you are curious is by asking them questions—for example, about the things they like to do, like hobbies or activities. Ask questions that would make them want to tell you more and elaborate. This will ensure that they know of your interest and, at the same time, an avenue to discuss what they feel passionate about. As they answer your questions, show them that you are truly interested in attending to what they say with enthusiasm, waiting to see how it unfolds. Ask them more questions to show appreciation for what they are sharing. It makes them feel good, and somehow, the conversation becomes much more engaging. Do not be afraid to share your curiosity as well. Ask for recommendations or more details about what they are talking about. This indicates that you are interested in learning more and makes the conversation interactive. Remember, being curious is one way to connect with others and understand them better. It shows interest in their interests and experiences, so keep being curious and watch your conversations become more interesting and enjoyable.

Find Common Ground

A good conversation technique for connecting with others is to find common ground. This helps you feel more at ease with someone when you have things in common with him or her. You may find common ground by asking questions about his or her upbringing: where he is from, what he studied, or what he does for a living. Find things that strike a resemblance between the two of you, though you may be from very different places. Share things that both of you like. You can share your own experiences and possibly get the other person to do the same. This can help you find even more things you have in common. You can also look for common ground in your beliefs and values. Tell them what is important for you and make sure to ask them about what they appreciate. Although on most issues you could be disagreeing, maybe you will learn that you are guided by the same principles or goals. This can be a way for you to connect and become better. Just remember, finding common ground isn't about pretending to be someone you're not. It's all about identifying those things that make the two of you really care or enjoy them that may open doors in relating to other people. When you take time to identify it, you will have much bigger conversations and form better relationships.

Use Nonverbal Cues 

Nonverbal cues are very important when you are talking with a person. They could show that you are really interested in what the other person is saying. Examples of such things that can bring you to an engaging frame of mind during the conversation may include holding eye contact, facial expression, and body language. Eye contact is important. Looking someone in the eye while he is talking lets a person know you're listening and interested in what he has to say. You don't want to stare too much, because that would be awkward. Your facial expressions can also show you're into the conversation. Smiling when appropriate will make the other person feel good and that you are enjoying the chat. Nodding lets them know you understand or agree with what they are saying. You can also feel a little more connected by subtly copying their expressions yourself. The way you hold your body can also give off signals about how interested you are. You can lean in just a little, showing you're paying attention. Better to keep the body open and relaxed rather than what crossing of legs can do—closed off. That will really make the conversations more likable and interesting. They create a friendly atmosphere and allow one to show real interest in what the other person says. So, make sure to adapt your body language and facial expressions that show you are genuinely interested in the conversation.

Find Authenticity

Being authentic is all about being true to oneself and one's thoughts and opinions by expressing them openly and honestly without the fear of another's disapproving gaze. It also implies having pride in being who you are and not fearing that you are letting somebody see your real self. When we are authentic, we are being real and honest in dealings with friends and acquaintances, our boss, our colleagues, or whoever. We aren't terrified of confessing to our mistakes or showing our frailty. This makes it even easier for us to create stronger bonds with individuals who relate to us as human beings in real life. Moreover, being authentic helps us to advance and respect ourselves for whom we truly are. We can make out our strengths and weaknesses, thus working on ourselves to become better human beings. We can make choices that will help to uphold what truly counts to us in life and go after things we are passionate about basically by living lives that are full of value. We can also make a very constructive contribution to the world when we are truly ourselves. By being honest with what we have to say about our ideas, thoughts, and perspectives, we are then given a chance to be participants in thoughtful discussions, challenge the status quo, and inspire change. From here, our unique perspectives will help create a better world. Living an authentic life, in a world that most of the time is trying to make all of us too similar, has turned into a very courageous and oft-overlooked thing. That's brave and important. It involves courage and self-awareness but holds many advantages because now one will feel free to deeply connect, develop himself, and make a difference in the world. So, let's celebrate who we are and be proud of our authentic selves. Only then can we make a world that is much more real, kind, and inclusive when we live true to ourselves and empower others to do the same?

Ask Follow-Up Questions

When having a good chat, a second good thing to do is to start asking more than one question. By asking follow-up questions, this will make the conversation interesting and also get to know more of what the other person thinks. Follow-up questions enable us to see things more vividly, perceive varied perspectives, or delve further into the discussion at hand. They make the other person feel like we really care about what they're hearing since we appear inquisitive. Asking follow-up questions, further elaboration on ideas, and sharing more details with another person are encouraged. This helps us see things from their view and, thus, makes conversations way more exciting. First of all, it shows respect for what they know and have experienced, while we are open to learning from them. A follow-up question might cause us to think even more deeply about a point. We will be able to investigate new angles and learn something new through further explanations or alternative ideas. This keeps the conversation lively and stops it from getting boring. In a nutshell, asking follow-up questions is really effective for conversations since this will lead us to understand more, think more critically, and most importantly, keep the chat going and fun! Let's hit practice in asking follow-up questions, and let's make our discussions more interesting and informative!

 Avoid Controversial Topics

Whenever we engage in discussion with other individuals, we need to think carefully about what we are going to say to avoid hurting other people or making them feel uncomfortable. Avoiding such topics will ensure that there are no disputes and everyone is welcome and happy while chatting. Keeping off such sensitive topics shows that we value what others think and feel. It creates a nice environment where everyone can share their thoughts without judgment or being treated badly. This makes it so much easier to really trust each other and be open. Discussing relevant issues of concern helps us find commonalities and relate better, always trying to share ideas for better understanding. It helps us continue in constructive struggles together by sharing creative ideas. It's also possible to discuss interesting things and everybody can learn from or enjoy. By avoiding controversial topics us, we always aim to keep our conversation friendly and peaceful. Controversial topics may evoke especially strong emotions and easily lead to quarrels. One risks avoiding disputes and making the conversation more delightful, therefore, pulling the few friends closer together. In fact, it is always advisable to note that as much as it is good to argue and discuss things, one ought to ensure not hurting other people's feelings. This permits all people who participate to be open-minded, included, and understanding. It will result in them being taken with more happiness and respect when all is said and done because through the end we will have been careful at what points we touched on in our conversation. This helps us build bridges and understanding for better and more positive talks.

Be Positive

This is a big factor when one speaks to someone else: it is with a positive attitude that he or she discusses, which would make the dialogue more interesting for everybody else. Bringing positivity into our chats creates a feeling of happiness, and fun, and makes people hopeful for the best. This creates an atmosphere of friendship, in which you can share thoughts quite freely, listening to one another and having fun in the process. Positive conversations make us feel closer to one another—they act like the threads in knitting. They provide us with a safe space in which personal expression, learning something new, and interesting discussions may take place. On the contrary, being positive makes one more interested in the words and statements of others, thus the conversation becomes all the more interesting and enjoyable. It inspires us to be creative, solve problems, and look optimistically into the future. This keeps us charged not only with engagement and motivation but also with the ability to retain our thoughts against anything unwarranted. At times, positive conversations relieve us of the feeling of happiness and stress. It's almost like giving and receiving a small burst of happiness which can be passed on from person to person, completing the whole interaction by making it more enjoyable and enlightening. Additionally, being positive allows us to create better relationships with others, since people are attracted to individuals who are light-hearted and optimistic. In the end, keeping a positive and upbeat tone in our conversations makes them more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone. It helps us relate with others, feel inspired, be happy, and stay healthy. So the next time you talk, try to spread a bit of the sun around the room—you'll feel a big difference!

Practice Active Listening

Listening well and repeating what a person has said shows you are interested in what is on their mind. We can understand their thoughts better and help to make them feel important. If we pay close attention and play back portions of what they said, then it will certainly show that we have been listening and regard the ideas as valuable. If we summarize and play back what we hear, then we actually learn the information. This gives us a chance to understand that they are right with us and that we labor to achieve understanding. It makes the conversation meaningful and helps us to put forth our own views in an organized way. When we summarize and recap key aspects, we are already giving the speaker an incentive to share more and speak out their thoughts explicitly. That leads to a more engaging conversation, creating a more dynamic conversation in which everyone learns from one another; it therefore broadens our views and opens ideas to us. We can have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with others by active listening. This is aided by the process of summarization and repeating the most important points of what has been said. This makes the other person see that we do care about his or her feelings and ideas and thus begins the process of trust and respect. This kind of listening could help get into the person's shoes and trigger empathy and understanding. It makes conversations more meaningful and enjoyable. In summation, repetition of what we hear and listening properly is an influential way to better conversations and interviewing skills.