双语：如何避免尬聊？

How to Keep a Conversation Going: Strategies That Actually Work

Have you ever felt stuck in a conversation that feels like it's running on fumes?

你是否曾陷入一场感觉快进行不下去的对话中？

We've all been there. Awkward silences creep in, and you scramble to think of something to say besides "the weather sure is something, huh?" You're grasping for straws and wish the ground would open up and swallow you whole.

我们都有过这样的经历。尴尬的沉默悄然降临，而你绞尽脑汁想找点话说，除了“天气确实有点那个，是吧？”你在做徒劳的挣扎，恨不得地上裂个缝把自己整个吞进去。

Keeping a conversation flowing smoothly is an art, one that requires creativity, confidence, empathy, and top-notch listening skills.

让对话流畅进行是一门艺术，它需要创造力、自信、同理心以及一流的倾听技巧。

"Everything about conversation is tricky—it's a relentless coordination game where multiple people each make thousands of microdecisions, so all of their tiny choices (words, acoustic sounds, nonverbal signals, etc.) need to be coordinated with each other," says Alison Wood Brooks, PhD, an associate professor and conversation researcher at Harvard Business School.

哈佛商学院副教授兼对话研究员艾莉森·伍德·布鲁克斯博士说道。“对话中的一切都很棘手——它是一场无情的协调游戏，多人各自做出数千个微小的决定，所以他们所有的小选择（言语、声音、非语言信号等）都需要相互协调。”

If keeping a conversation going is a struggle for you, we've got you covered. In this article we ask the communication expert for some strategies that can help you level up your conversation game and overcome any roadblocks. These tips will come in handy while talking to a friend, colleague, family member, or even a romantic partner.

如果让对话持续进行对你来说很困难，我们来为你提供帮助。在这篇文章中，我们向沟通专家请教了一些策略，这些策略可以帮助你提升对话水平并克服任何障碍。这些技巧在与朋友、同事、家人甚至浪漫伴侣交谈时都会派上用场。

Whether it's a first date, a party, or a networking event, these are some strategies that can help you create and maintain a conversation.

无论是初次约会、聚会还是社交活动，以下是一些可以帮助你开启并维持对话的策略。

Keep a Few Topics Handy

准备几个话题

Dr. Brooks recommends thinking of a few potential conversation topics that will interest the person you're talking to ahead of time, even if it's just a few minutes before the conversation begins. She explains that this can help reduce your anxiety and panic when the conversation lags and you need a new topic to keep it alive and bubbling.

布鲁克斯博士建议提前想好几个可能会让你交谈对象感兴趣的话题，即使是在对话开始前几分钟也好。她解释说，这可以在对话停滞时帮助你减少焦虑和恐慌，当你需要一个新话题让对话保持活跃和热烈时就派上用场了。

Tell a Fun Story

讲一个有趣的故事

People love a good story! Share an interesting anecdote or experience that relates to the conversation. This can not only be entertaining but also open doors for the other person to share something similar. It can be helpful to keep a few anecdotes in your back pocket in case you need them.

人们都喜欢好故事！分享一个与对话相关的有趣轶事或经历。这不仅可以带来乐趣，还能为对方分享类似的事情打开大门。准备几个轶事放在心里会很有帮助，以防不时之需。

Look for Common Ground
寻找共同点

Conversations flow naturally when you share interests, experiences, or perspectives with someone. Look for things you have in common, whether it's an interest in a particular sitcom, a love for travel, or a weakness for croissants.

当你与某人有共同的兴趣、经历或观点时，对话会自然地进行下去。寻找你们的共同点，无论是对某部情景喜剧的喜爱、对旅行的热爱，还是对羊角面包的偏爱。

Ask Open-Ended Questions

提出开放式问题

Instead of yes-or-no questions, ask open-ended questions that invite the other person to share more information and expand on their thoughts.

不要问只能回答是或否的问题，而是提出开放式问题，邀请对方分享更多信息并展开他们的想法。

Give a Compliment

给予赞美

Give the person you're talking to a compliment. This will make them feel pleased and make them more likely to open up to you in a conversation. Avoid generic compliments though; make it something unique and genuine.

给与你交谈的人一个赞美。这会让他们感到高兴，也更有可能在对话中向你敞开心扉。不过要避免泛泛的赞美，要让赞美独特而真诚。

Be Yourself

做你自己

People are drawn to genuine enthusiasm. Be yourself during the conversation, letting your personality shine through.

人们会被真诚的热情所吸引。在对话中做自己，让你的个性闪耀出来。

Keep It Positive

保持积极

Maintain a positive and open-minded attitude during the conversation. Avoid negative topics or criticisms that can derail the mood and flow of the discussion.

在对话中保持积极和开放的态度。避免消极的话题或批评，以免破坏讨论的氛围和流畅性。

翻译：豆包

整理：2024年8月21日于普洱金融培训中心