1. Don’t try to be cool or deep
2. Tweak the boring questions
3. Focus on the other person
4. Use ‘support responses’
5. Nod more
6. Match the other person’s energy
7. Validate the other person
8. Avoid controversial topics
9. Prepackage some questions
10. Ask for advice
11. Don’t interrupt an ongoing conversation
Don’t hop into any conversation, Bowe says. If someone is telling a very animated story, it’s best not to chime in. “First, wait for a lull,” he says. “Then once you have someone’s attention and, ideally, receive a non-verbal go-ahead, that’s your chance.”