Forced to socialise? 10 questions to ask to avoid awkward silence

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are forced to make small talk with people, only to avoid awkward silences? Maybe you bump into an acquaintance in the lift or meet a colleague at the mall or have to meet a relative in the festive season after a long time, and now you have to socialise with them just to be friendly and nice. However, in your heart, you know that having small talk with someone is not your strong point. If this sounds familiar to you, then worry not as here we share some go-to questions that can help you break the ice and make such interactions less painful. With practice and time, you'll even be able to master the art of socialising and genuinely connecting with people. So, here are 10 questions to ask to avoid awkward silence:
If you bump into someone at an event or a public place
1. Have you been here before?2. How are you here today?
3. Have you explored this place earlier? Could you please recommend any good places/restaurants or cafes nearby?
Personal questions to know someone better
1. How do you usually relax on a weekend? What are your hobbies?2. Do you have any upcoming travel plans?
3. What are you currently reading or watching? Can you recommend something good to read or watch?

Some work-related questions
1. Where do you work? What's your job profile like?
2. How did you end up becoming ___ (insert job profile)? What motivated you?

Some family-related questions
1. How’s your spouse/child/parents doing?
2. How do you generally spend the weekends or holidays? Did you go to any new places with your family?

The psychology behind asking people about themselves
While this might sound like small talk and a very basic question to ask, it is noted that people often love to talk about themselves. So what's a better way to break the ice and ask people about themselves and what's happening in their lives? In most cases, people will open up and share about themselves-- thus taking the weight off you to talk to them. If you ask counter-questions or more details, this will help keep the conversation going and others would be happy to share more. This will also help you make a genuine connection with others.