Share a moment when your partner did something you admired: “I feel really lucky to be dating Sam. He’s so considerate, and yesterday, he helped a kid fix her bike chain. ” Talk about your partner’s success: “I’m so proud that Zamari got promoted. He works so hard!”

“I bet William was the class clown in middle school. What did his teachers think of him?” “What was Kuhan like when he was younger?”

Point out resemblances: “Is that Ishaan’s grandfather? They have the same eyes. ” Ask about photo locations: “Where did you take this photo? It’s so beautiful. ”

Get the scoop on family traditions: “Jacob told me you go on family picnics every Sunday. Where do you go?” Learn about past trips: “How was your backpacking trip?” Find out about future plans: “What would your dream vacation look like?”

If you’re not familiar with the area, ask, “What did you like most about growing up there?” If you know something about the area, follow up with a specific question like, “Wow. They have that great stadium there, right? Did you ever go to a game?”

“Have you read anything good lately?” “What’s the best movie you’ve seen?” “What music do you like listening to?”

“Marcel mentioned that you’re interested in gardening. I’m starting an herb garden. Do you have any tips?” “I want to study to become a doctor. What do you like about your career?”

“Your daughter is studying to be a nurse, right? How does she like her school?” “I’ve never gotten to meet his older brother. What’s he like?” “Harvey seems like a great dog. Do you have any puppy pictures of him?”

Compliment décor: “This living room feels so bright and welcoming. Where did you get that sofa?” Mention the meal: “Thank you so much for dinner. Where did you learn how to make this?”

Express polite disagreement by saying, “I have a slightly different perspective on that,” which is more subtle than “I disagree. ”[13] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source Laugh off awkward comments or say, “I really don’t know what to say!”[14] X Research source

You can redirect the conversation by asking a question about someone else’s life, “That class wasn’t my favorite, but I learned a lot. What’s something that stuck with you from college?” If you feel strongly, try to temper your criticism, “Oh, that movie wasn’t my favorite, but I thought the music was really beautiful. ”