How to Make Conversations Less Awkward

Building Confidence in Everyday Conversations

For many teens and adults, conversations can feel like a balancing act—finding the right words, knowing when to speak, and interpreting social cues all at once. Chatting with classmates, connecting with coworkers, or mingling at social events can make interactions stressful. Awkward silences, missed cues, or overthinking what to say next can turn even simple exchanges into uncomfortable moments.

A high school student might avoid joining a group at lunch because they don’t know how to enter the conversation, while a young professional might rehearse what to say before meetings but still worry about seeming nervous. Even adults with plenty of experience can feel stuck when conversations take unexpected turns. These challenges don’t mean someone lacks intelligence or social interest—often, it’s about not having the right strategies or practice. Social skills therapy provides structured support to help people navigate these situations more smoothly, offering practical tools and safe practice so they can move past awkwardness and build meaningful, confident connections.

Why Conversations Feel Awkward

Difficulty starting or ending conversations

Many people struggle to think of an opening line or feel unsure when a conversation naturally ends, which can make interactions feel abrupt or forced. For example, walking into a group discussion at school or a work meeting might feel intimidating.

Trouble following group discussions

In larger groups, it can be hard to keep track of multiple speakers, overlapping conversations, or quick topic changes. This may lead to missing important points or responding inappropriately.

Anxiety or overthinking responses

Worrying about saying the “wrong thing” can cause hesitation, awkward pauses, or speaking too quickly. This often creates a cycle of stress that makes conversation even harder.

Misreading social cues

Nonverbal signals like facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language can be missed or misinterpreted, leading to responses that feel out of sync with the conversation.

Strategies to Improve Social Skills

Open-ended questions

Instead of yes/no questions, use questions that invite elaboration.
Example: “What did you think of the project presentation?” instead of “Did you like the presentation?”

Active listening

Show engagement through eye contact, nodding, verbal prompts, and paraphrasing.
Example: Saying, “So you felt nervous presenting in front of the class?” demonstrates understanding and encourages the speaker to expand.

Conversation repair

Learn how to gracefully recover if you lose your train of thought, mispronounce a word, or interrupt.
Example: “Sorry, let me rephrase that” or “I lost my thought for a second—let me start again.”

Role-play practice

Simulating real-life interactions helps build confidence in a safe environment.
Example: Practicing introducing yourself at a networking event or joining a group discussion with an SLP or peer can make real-world situations feel less intimidating.

Managing anxiety

Techniques such as deep breathing, visualizing successful interactions, or practicing self-talk can reduce stress and make it easier to engage.

How Therapy Helps

Speech-language pathologists provide structured feedback and tailored exercises that target the specific challenges clients face in conversations, such as starting interactions, reading social cues, or managing anxiety in group discussions. Therapy often includes role-play, guided practice, and real-time feedback, which makes it easier to apply new skills outside of sessions. By addressing both verbal skills, like asking open-ended questions or summarizing ideas, and nonverbal skills, such as maintaining eye contact, using gestures, or adjusting tone of voice, clients gain a more well-rounded approach to communication. Over time, this support not only makes everyday interactions smoother but also helps individuals strengthen friendships and social connections, reduce stress in group settings, and build greater confidence in professional or academic environments.

Getting Support with SpeechLab Toronto

SpeechLab Toronto offers social skills therapy for teens and adults, helping clients build confidence, communication skills, and meaningful relationships. Connect with us today to see how we can support your social skills development!