1.  START WITH AN INTRODUCTION, AND SIMPLY TELL THE NEW PERSON YOUR NAME. OFFER YOUR HAND TO SHAKE, UPON HIS RESPONDING TO YOU.

2.  LOOK YOUR NEW FOUND FRIEND IN THE EYE, IT ENGENDERS TRUST (BUT DON’T STARE). ALSO, USE THE PERSON’S NAME A TIME OR TWO DURING THE CONVERSATION; IT WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER THE NAME, AND WILL DRAW THE PERSON’S ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. SMILE A LOT, AND LAUGH WHEN ANY QUIP IS MADE BY THE OTHER PERSON.

3.  JUST BE YOURSELF AND ASK THE QUESTION THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE THE RIGHT THING TO SAY, BUT GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT.

4.  REMEMBER THAT SOMETIMES IF A CONVERSATION ISN’T GOING WELL, IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR FAULT. SOMETIMES THE OTHER PERSON IS DISTRACTED/LOST IN THOUGHT, ISN’T WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE, OR IS HAVING A BAD DAY. IF THEY DON’T SPEAK OR LISTEN, THEN THEY ARE THE ONES NOT USING GOOD CONVERSATION SKILLS, NOT YOU. BUT IN ANY CASE, IT’S STILL A GOOD IDEA TO STRIVE TO DO YOUR PART AS A GOOD CONVERSATIONALIST.

5.  KNOW WHEN THE CONVERSATION IS OVER. EVEN THE BEST CONVERSATIONS WILL EVENTUALLY RUN OUT OF STEAM OR BE ENDED BY AN INTERRUPTION. SMILE IF YOU’RE LEAVING, TELL THEM IT WAS NICE TALKING TO THEM, AND SAY GOODBYE. ENDING ON A POSITIVE NOTE WILL LEAVE A GOOD IMPRESSION.