In social situations, certain topics can serve as red flags, signaling a lack of awareness or sensitivity. These subjects often derail conversations and can leave others feeling uncomfortable or ...

My best conversations are with my friend Rich. He doesn’t have extraordinary speaking talents or the ability to tell side-splitting jokes. It’s just that after talking with Rich, I somehow feel ...

Conversation lies at the heart of our relationships – yet many of us find it surprisingly hard to talk to others. We may feel anxious at the thought of making small talk with strangers and struggle to ...

I grew up in a family of talkers who drove our teachers crazy. I remember sitting in my English 102 class during college with just two weeks left in the semester. My professor looked at me and said, ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am always looking to meet new people and make new friends. But for the last five years or so, I have noticed that people only want to talk about themselves -- their travels, home ...

Depending on your natural level of extraversion, you may view chit-chat with strangers more like a mild form of torture than a mood booster (as an introvert, I hear you). But the research is clear: ...