Earlier I believed that to be able to strike a conversation with anyone, I should have fascinating stories to tell, I should be well read, I should be charismatic and funny. In short I should be James Bond, or someone like him.
However, recently I discovered the secrets to a good conversation.
Last week I read this book: The Charisma Myth, and it had some really interesting insights to offer.
The secret to a good conversation is not you. It is the person you are talking to. Don't try to sell your own stories, ask them their's. Asking open ended questions like: "So tell me what's your story..." or "What is your opinion on..." can really get them talking.
Research suggests that humans can detect disinterest/distraction in just 17 milliseconds! So, just getting the other person to talk does not wrap it up. You have to portray that you are interested in whatever they have to say. Body language and eye contact play an important role in this. Being a good listener can really take you few notches up in any conversation. Avoid excessive nodding and time your umm's and hmm's well. Pauses are important too!
Sometimes mirroring body language (with subtleness of course) can make the other person connected to you. The other person feels more comfortable talking to someone who is like them.
So, to recapitulate:
Make the other person the subject of the conversation
Ask open ended questions
Give them all your attention(remember, 17 milliseconds is all you have)
Be an active listener, avoid excessive nodding and time your umm's and hmm's properly
Always keep the ball in their court, people love talking about themselves
Mirror body language(be subtle), make them feel you are one of their own
Express opinions, facts can be boring
Humor gives you multiple lives in the game of conversation
Appreciate people whenever possible (the world is full of underappreciated people), without trying to suck up to them or sound obsequious