Silents
Someone may be unresponsive due to lack of skills or personal style. It requires extra effort to start a dialogue. Helpful techniques are:

• Ask open-end questions, not ones with “yes/no” answers.
• Wait with a friendly look for a response.
• Repeat in different words.
• Praise responses.
• Comment on silence, if person remains silent.
• Perhaps, offer to meet later at a “better time”.

If this is a problem for you, specify your plan of action:

Difficult Contacts

Contact Skills