A pause feels longer to you than to anyone else.
Direct answer
To handle awkward silence, stay relaxed, treat short pauses as normal and restart with an open question, a follow-up on an earlier topic or a comment on the surroundings. If the conversation has run its course, end it kindly.
Ways to restart
- "You mentioned earlier that you were travelling. Where to?"
- "How has your week been?"
- "What do you think of the venue?"
Mindset
- Silence is not failure.
- Breathe.
- Be curious.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's The Art of Small Talk course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Pauses are part of conversation. Fill them with curiosity.
