Women tend to be verbal communicators.
Starting a conversation with a woman is just like beginning a conversation with any other person. The trick---and it's not really a trick---for a man is to be genuinely interested in what she is saying and being open to sharing a bit of yourself. There's no smooth line that will pave the way. Women long for human contact just as you do and simply want to feel respected as they're getting to know who you are.
Instructions
1. Make and keep eye contact. It might seem basic, but eye contact will help the woman know that it is her you are interested in talking to and that you are interesting in what she's saying. If your attention strays, she's going to assume that you're looking for someone new to talk to or not interested in what she's saying. Both scenarios are conversation killers.
2. Make her comfortable. One way to get over your own nervousness is to recognize that almost everyone is nervous about talking to a new person. As confident as she might outwardly seem, she's probably having an internal dialogue with herself about how nervous she is. Your job is to make her comfortable enough that she can forget that internal dialogue and simply enjoy the conversation.
3. Ask an open-ended question. Don't ask anything she can answer with a simple yes or no. Rather than asking her if she's ever been to a particular restaurant, for instance, ask her for the name of few restaurants in the area that are worth visiting.
4. Keep the conversation light. Talking about your recently deceased grandmother won't be much fun for her, so talk about things that interest you both.
5. Actively listen. People want to know that what they say matters and that they're being heard. Truly listen to what she's saying rather than trying to think of the next thing you're going to say. Practice this skill with friends and colleagues before trying to start a conversation with a woman. If you're actively listening, more questions or comments will naturally arise from the conversation.
6. Be yourself. It might sound trite, but "you" is who she wants to learn more about. Don't worry about the kind of person she might be looking for, and don't try to be a character that you're not. Trust that who you are is the person she wants to get to know.
