Half the problem with small is the fear of looking stupid.

There's nothing worse than feeling caught off-guard with nothing to say. The art of conversation is maintaining the 'rally' of back and forth. Just like gentle taps in tennis that suffice to get the ball across the line, some of the returns can afford to be lighter than the others.

Use these fillers, taps, and prompts to always have something to say while keeping you 'in the game'.

Fillers

• Easy tiger!

• Let me think about it for a second

• How's that working out for you?

Taps

• Because...?

• And...?

• How come?

• Repeating the last 3 words they say, but in a questioning tone.

T.E.D. prompts

• Tell me more about...

• Explain how...

• Describe...