Noticing different ways people can extend a greeting into a longer conversation.
Exploring questions that open up a conversation rather than close it down.
Considering how interest in another person can help a conversation continue.
Thinking about how different people have different preferences for how conversations flow.
Reflecting on what helps you feel comfortable keeping a conversation going.
A presenter shares five questions they use to continue a conversation after an opening exchange. Each question is intended to invite the other person to share more than a brief reply. The questions relate to recent experiences, current highlights, and things the person is looking forward to. The presenter frames the questions as personal preferences rather than rules.
• What did you notice about the questions the presenter shared?
• Were any of them familiar to you?
• What questions feel natural for you when you want to keep a conversation going?
• How do you prefer to respond when someone asks how you are going?
• What might help when two people have different styles for continuing a conversation?
• How might someone let another person know they need more time before responding?
• What could help when a conversation feels like it has run out of momentum?
• Is there a question or approach you would add to the presenter's list?
The questions within this guide are designed to open dialogue and facilitate discussion around the relevant topics. It is up to the user to adapt as needed to best suit the person they are supporting. A neuroaffirming approach was central to the design of these resources and remains essential to their application. This means recognising and respecting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world, ensuring all conversations are led with curiosity, respect, and without judgement. These resources are a starting point. Trust your knowledge of the person you are supporting to shape the conversation from there.
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