I have a close friend, she feels since college (which she graduated in 2011), she's become 'less social.'
Everytime in a social situation, she tells me 'I feel like I only talk about myself...'
She then comments that I seem to engage more with other people, including strangers.
ASK QUESTIONSHere's the secret (as you said @itissimple),
At the restaurant I went to yesterday, a young girl came up and offered to make my daughter a balloon animal.
How did I engage with her? ... very naturally and sincerely asked: 'How'd you learn to make balloon animals? How long did it take? Do you want to become an entertainer? Dumb questions like that, but she appreciated I listened and cared even though I'll never see her again.
Totally agree, key is to listen and ask questions.
meep