7. They ask questions that lead into other topics
Chris X. Yang emphasizes the importance of asking the right types of questions.
For example, he says, instead of asking, "Where are you from?" you can ask, "So what’s cool about where you’re from?" That way, you get more than a one-word answer that can spark a back-and-forth.
If you do ask a simple question, Gretchen Rubin, author of books including "The Happiness Project," advises asking a follow-up question. For example, if you ask, "Where are you from?" you could then ask, "What would your life be like if you still lived there?"