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Keeping a conversation going: great answers

Even if you are focused on learning about the other person and asking good follow-up questions, the other person will also ask you questions. Below are some types of answers you can give that make conversations more engaging.

Sharing "mini" stories

You can answer many questions with a "mini" story. To make your answer particularly engaging, ensure your story contains some emotional component.

Few things are more engaging than stories with emotions. However, make sure you keep your stories to around three to five sentences. If you tell long stories, you risk annoying your conversation partner. If they're interested in the story, they'll ask follow-up questions and give you the opportunity to share more details.

To illustrate the power of answering with stories, compare the answer above to the boring answer below:

Highlight things you have in common

If the opportunity arises, highlight things you and your conversation partner have in common. This will forge a connection between the two of you.

In addition to making the two of you instantly feel more connected, similarities often provide fertile ground for further conversation. After all, the thing that you have in common is something both of you can talk about.