There must have been times when you struggled with keeping a grip over your conversations. You totally grasped the opportunity to initiate the discussion but it all died in a jiffy! And, all that remains is a long awkward silence.
The reason could be anything, either you said it all in a single breath or somehow an uncomfortable void filled in because of someone else. Whatever the reasons may be, we all have found ourselves stuck in such circumstances.
So, here are 10 ways you can easily avoid the awkward silence without losing the pace and joyfulness of communication.
#1. Don't Say It All At Once
Move steadily from one point to the next. Try and initially just connect to the outer surroundings. Gradually advance the conversation and move deeper into the matter. Develop the possible connections but not too soon. Focus first on the common grounds moving on to the related subjects later on.
#2. Don't Try To Know All At Once
Don't just think of acquiring all the info at one go! Let that curiosity retain its charm. Get to know the other person/situation in bits. Start by creating an outline on the paper to gradually complete the entire colorful painting.
#3. Do Not Censor Statements
Sometimes, being silly works but not being quiet! No one in a group takes notice of the silly statements like they do of awkward silences. Be random, be goofy because that's much better than censoring statements and not saying anything at all.
#4. End Stories With A Question
The whole idea is to arouse a string of discussions and not just a yes or no answer. Leave the conversation in such a way that the other person has a question to ask. Avoid flat responses. This will not let the conversation shut down abruptly or end before it starts.
#5. Make Others Feel Comfortable And Know Their Opinions
Facilitate a conversation by letting the other person be at ease. Smile, be friendly and respect their point of views. Let an exciting conversation be everyone's responsibility!
#6. Talk About Previous Subjects
If no one amongst the group comes up with anything to talk about, just go back to what someone else might have said earlier. Talk about any previous subject and fill the silence by building upon those statements!
#7. Take Cues From The Situation
This approach is applicable once you or someone else has broken the ice. And it's also a great solution while in group discussion interviews. Just keep in mind that now is the time when you need to start peeling off the layers. Take leads from the conversation that's happening. Think about what further narratives can you add to the things someone else spoke about. This way you can keep the dialogue rolling.
#8. Talk About Things People Can Definitely Relate To!
Make sure to bond first and then move the conversation forward. Let everyone participate emotionally in making it sound interesting.
#9. Don't Try Hard
The tougher you try to jumpstart a conversation, more are the possibilities of you uttering out potentially embarrassing things. But in case you still do that, try and gently switch to something else. Don't let the silence linger on!
#10. Identify The Source
If everything else has been tried yet the awkward silence seeps in, try to recognize the source it originated from. Usually, there's something leading to a silence. If you are able to acknowledge the same, silence can be saturated easily. So respond according to the circumstances and move forward.
At the end, if you feel you can, break the rules and find your own ways to cultivate that curiosity and let the liveliness flow in. There always is that one person who brings everyone else together. So, be the one!
Let us know your thoughts and opinions about waving off that awkward silence. We would love to hear from you!
24 Opinions
5 Opinions
Share
