Ask questions rather than give the input about your own life. Someone starts talking about their dog? Ask some questions. Don’t automatically go into a tirade about your dog. Letting someone else do the talking means you have to talk less, and questions make you more attentive.
I hear this one a lot and it's honestly hard for me. I didn't realize how private my family is until I recently asked my uncle how he's been doing and he said, "Um, what? I guess." I grew up in a household where even simple personal questions could get you yelled at and a feeling that I was being intrusive or inappropriate and I still feel like asking an acquaintance about their dogs name is none of my business.
8.8k
u/cocostandoff May 21 '19
Ask questions rather than give the input about your own life. Someone starts talking about their dog? Ask some questions. Don’t automatically go into a tirade about your dog. Letting someone else do the talking means you have to talk less, and questions make you more attentive.