Ask an open-ended follow-up question
Reference something they just said
Share a related thought or experience
Use their name naturally
Expand on one topic at a time
Show genuine interest
Keep your responses short and inviting
Ask for their opinion
Mention a shared context or memory
Use “what,” “how,” or “why” questions
Mirror their tone and pace
Add a small detail to keep the topic moving
Clarify if something is unclear
Bring up a related topic
Respond to both the content and the feeling
Avoid one-word replies
End with a question when appropriate