Has this ever happened to you? You’re chatting with someone and then, ouch, an uncomfortable silence pops up. You wrack your brain for something scintillating to say—but you can’t think of anything, sparkling or not, to fill the painfully protracted silence.

This happened to me just last week. I was talking with a new acquaintance telling him about a recent trip I’d taken. But when I finished, one of those agonizing silences reared its horrible head.  I racked my brain to no avail for something to say (or an excuse to get away. But just then, he said three words that turned the entire encounter around. He simply smiled and said, “Tell me more.”

Well, I didn't need a second invitation! I happiy delved into another ten minute monologue about my trip, and came away thinking that he was an intriguing conversationalist. Yet, thinking back, he’d hardly said a word.

CoolCommunicating Tip:  Use these three magic words guaranteed to resuscitate a dying conversation: “Tell me more!”