How to talk to anyone: the experts' guide

• If you're together in the same place, you have something in common. If we can be aware that others also feel uncomfortable, we can think about what we can do to make them feel comfortable with us.
• Ask people how they know the host or how they got there.
• Borrow stories if you can't relate. If you're not a dog person and someone else wants to talk about dogs, talk about your friends' dog.
• Suppose you feel ready to move on, interrupt yourself, not them. "It's been so nice talking to you about..."

For doctors, half their game is trying to find out why the person is there. Do they want medication, tests, want to be signed off work, worried they have a more severe illness?

At an appointment, try to mention the most important thing at the beginning. Try to be descriptive. If you have pain, is it dull or sharp, burn or throb? Have you been getting pains for a few days, weeks, or at certain times of the day?

With dating, there is an assumption that you are on the back foot, and the other person holds all the power.

• Pay attention to what people talk about. If your date is sharing negative information, it could be a sign they're not ready for a relationship.
• Try to focus on if you like them, instead of if they like you.
• Don't fear silent moments. Instead, see how the other person reacts. Does your date help you out and respond positively, or not?
• When you're on a date, you're both gathering information to work out whether you'll fit well together.

When you're a grownup, you will probably need to initiate conversations as your parents won't want to interfere with your independence. The best way to re-establish a relationship is to give them a regular update on everyday details of your life.

Parents who are getting older need to feel as if they have lived for a reason. It can be very therapeutic to make time for those stories and to share them with each other.

Most people want more contact. Employees often feel out of the loop.

• Try to put yourself in your boss's shoes. How does what you need to say affect them?
• Question if you should send an email or say it in person.
• Remember that your boss may not be the one making the final decision. You may need to convince them to convince others.