However, being good at small talk can be a huge benefit, whether it helps you come across as more charming on first dates<\/a>, build better rapport with coworkers<\/a>, or make more friends at a party. Small talk is great for your romantic life, social life, and professional advancement. The problem is that many people are afraid of getting stuck in an awkward silence or in a conversation<\/a> that isn\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social skills coach Andrew Godwin<\/a> offers a group program<\/a> that helps high school boys master conversation skills, build real friendships, and develop unshakable confidence. He\u2019s also a popular TikToker who shares tips for building confidence and improving communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Godwin says the key to keeping every conversation \u201crolling\u201d and avoiding awkward silences is knowing how to use open-ended questions and phrases. Here are four that he recommends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomebody\u2019s telling you any story, or they give you a little glimpse of something. \u2018I had a crazy weekend.\u2019 \u2018Tell me more. Tell me all about it. Tell me, I wanna hear more.\u2019 That\u2019s a beautiful open up. Give them the floor,\u201d Godwin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey went on a trip to Italy. They went to the freaking new market downtown. \u2018What was that like?\u2019 Just open the floor for them beautifully,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomebody does anything interesting at all, they\u2019re like, \u2018I went fly fishing the other day.\u2019 Or they play pickleball. Or they even, like, do board games on Sundays. \u2018How\u2019d you get into that? What got you into that?\u2019 The reason behind stuff is always the way to go,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned that \u2018What was your favorite part?\u2019 never really pans out well. But you can say, like, \u2018What were some of the highlights?\u2019 Or \u2018What caught your eye?\u2019 about literally anything,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNotice how none of these are yes-or-no questions,\u201d Godwin says in the video. When you ask someone a yes-or-no question, you\u2019re often dooming the conversation because it gives you nothing to follow through on. It can feel like you have to start a whole new topic out of nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Open-ended questions begin with who, what, when, where, why, or how, and they encourage your conversation partner to think before responding, which usually elicits a more interesting (and longer) response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
1. \u201cTell me more\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. \u201cWhat was that like?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. \u201cHow\u2019d you get into that?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. \u201cWhat were some of the highlights?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"conversation,](\"https:\/\/www.upworthy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/origin_e1f433.png\")
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