It’s happened to all of us one time or another. 

Maybe you see someone and you forget their name.  Or it could be in a meeting and someone says something outrageous and no one knows how to respond.  

I’m talking about awkward moments. Often times, when those incidents happen, there are long silences… 

There is a reason why long silences can make you feel uncomfortable. A study  showed that fluent conversations lead to feelings of self-esteem, social validation, and belonging to a group. 

Do as much as you can to keep the conversation going, and both you and your conversation partner will feel more at ease. A good conversation is more about making music together than finding the perfect thing to say. 

One of  my favorite way to deal with awkward moments is through humor. 

If a conversation has become awkward, consider doing something to lighten the mood. You can do this by telling a funny joke or story, poking fun at yourself, or finding the humor in your current situation. Keeping the mood light will help to break the ice and move the conversation forward. 

Remember not every awkward conversation is a bad one—many can be salvaged with a bit of effort. you will become more adept at being that person who always knows the right thing to say to make others feel better and more comfortable when they’re around you.