Sometimes I am not the best at conversation. But asking a question is usually a good way to keep a conversation going.

Questions such as:

• How are you, really?
• How is your family doing?
• How is your job/business/etc.?
• I am thinking of taking up a new hobby. What do you like to do?
• Do you have any new projects going on?
• Can you recommend a book/movie/recipe?
• I need advice about ______. Do you have an ideas?
• Do you understand _______ that I’m having a hard time with?
• What do you hope for?
• What are you struggling with?
• Where did you grow up?
• Where have you lived? What has been your favorite place to live?
• What is something you miss in your life? What is something you are grateful for?

And ask someone a question that you wished someone would ask you.

But listening and caring about the answers might be even more important than asking the initial question. Listen enough to ask a follow-up question about what they are saying.