Smile and make brief eye contact
Start with a simple greeting
Ask an easy, open-ended question
Comment on the shared situation
Listen carefully to the response
Ask a follow-up question
Share a short, relevant detail about yourself
Keep your tone friendly and relaxed
Avoid controversial topics at first
Use the other person’s name if you know it
Look for common interests
Keep your questions light and simple
Pause naturally and let the conversation flow
Be attentive to body language
End politely when the conversation is done