Awkward silences can show up in any conversation. The other person has stopped talking, and you are at a loss of what to say. It helps to have something in your back pocket to keep the conversation going. Here are five things you can say or do to keep a conversation going.

1. Refer to something the person said earlier in the conversation. Perhaps the person mentioned something earlier on such as that they have been really busy at work. You could say, “You mentioned being busy at work. What are you working on?” If the person mentioned something about their child earlier on, you could say, “how is your son enjoying school this year?” Not only does this revive a stalled conversation, but it also shows that you are expressing interest in something that was said earlier. And when you do that, it shows that you were listening. The other added benefit is that your question will likely be met with a hearty reply, as it is a subject they have already mentioned earlier, so it is something they probably want to talk about.

2. Ask them for their thoughts or opinion on something. ​You can do this by thinking of a trending topic to bring up, as long as it’s not divisive. Unless,you know they are comfortable talking about it, and you know that you will not react negatively if they share an opposing view to you. You can also share something about yourself and ask, “I’m thinking about doing…” or “I’m thinking about going to…” and asking their thoughts around it. You are then elevating the other person, revealing that you value their thoughts and opinions. Never do it to manipulate people, however, only do it if you really do care about their thoughts or opinions on something.

3. Look for a way to bring someone else into the conversation. You are not always able to do this; however,if you are in a public place, it can help to invite someone else into the conversation to bring a freshness to the conversation. For instance, you have been talking about travel, and you see someone across the table. You bring them into the conversation by saying, “I know you just returned from a vacation. Tell us about that.”

4. Continue to look engaged and upbeat. Many times silence feels awkward because we feel awkward. Internally, we start wondering, “what can I say? Am I boring?” and that internal energy reflects outwardly like a wet blanket over your conversation. By continuing to look positive and engaged, it reduces the stress you may be feeling internally, and relays to the other person that you are enjoying the conversation with them.

5. Become more comfortable with silence. What you may think is an awkward pause may be a reprieve for an introvert! If you like to talk and feel uncomfortable with those silent spaces in conversation, start changing the way you think about them. Once you become more comfortable with silence, it will not feel as awkward in the future.