<ul><li>Pick a great first-date activity.</li><li>Keep your expectations in check.</li><li>Learn the science behind the perfect first date.</li><li>Try not to sweat it even if things do get uncomfortable. </li></ul><a href="http://lifehacker.com/plan-your-date-around-a-conversation-sparking-activity-1679678758"></a>

Going on a First Date

<ul><li>Owning Up to a Mistake: Learn from it and turn those mistakes into steps in improving yourself.</li><li>Helping Someone Through Their Illness or Grief: The Ring Theory is a good guide for knowing how to comfort someone.</li><li>People Who Make You Uncomfortable: It's good to be uncomfortable now and then, can give you new perspective and purpose.</li></ul><a href="http://lifehacker.com/get-comfortable-being-uncomfortable-1599385696"></a>

Other Awkward Situations

<ul><li>Have some good go-to stories.</li><li>Use the FORD technique (asking questions about Family," "Occupation," "Recreation" and "Dreams) to turn small talk into an actual conversation</li><li>Just enjoy the silence.</li></ul><a href="http://lifehacker.com/how-to-be-more-interesting-when-meeting-new-people-1612086910"></a>

Making Small Talk and Dealing with Awkward Silences

<ul>
<li>Birds and Bees and Kids is a site that can help broach sex with your kids more comfortably.</li>
<li>When talking about drugs, racial issues, or death, the most important thing is to meet the child where they are first and answer honestly and factually, however uncomfortable the situation might feel. Kids are taking their cues from you.</li>
</ul>

Talking to Your Kids About Sex/Sensitive Topics

<ul>
<li>Treat them delicately.</li>
<li>Try having a discrete, polite conversation with the person or kill 'em with kindness.</li>
<li>For coworkers who are slacking off, consider whether or not they are really a harming your work before making it your problem.</li>
</ul>

Confronting a Coworker

<ul>
<li>If you haven’t already, ask for their business card.</li>
<li>Ask for their name and pretend you just didn't know their last name.</li>
<li>Introduce the person to a friend and hope they introduce themselves.</li>
<li>Admit you've got a terrible memory, but it's awesome if the other person has remembered yours.</li>
</ul>

Forgetting Someone's Name

<ul>
<li>Stick to the facts and try to find common ground when discussing controversial subjects.</li>
<li>Prevent money arguments with your partner or with anyone else by taking the emotion out of it and having a plan in place.</li>
<li>Don’t engage people who just want to cause controversy.</li>
</ul>

Talking About Taboo Subjects

Life is full of awkward and uncomfortable moments. We can't avoid them altogether, but we can handle them with grace. Here are ten situations we all might struggle with and how to relieve the discomfort. It happens to the best of us.

Making Small Talk and Dealing with Awkward Silences

Similar ideas to Making Small Talk and Dealing with Awkward Silences

The FORD Technique for smooth small talk

The value of small talk

Small talk and time alone