Your personal and business environments may be very different, but skills needed to communicate effectively are basically same.

If you are attentive, informed, and a great listener, you can start a conversation with almost anyone in any situation.

1. If you need to improve your conversational skills in workplace, look around at those who seem to continually advance in their profession.

Notice how they speak with other employees, from CEO to janitor. A friendly smile, a firm handshake, and a confident attitude are generally common factors among those who are quickly moving up corporate ladder.

By making a conscious effort to speak with everyone you encounter and displaying a friendly, self-assured attitude, you will project a successful image and make lasting impressions upon co-workers.

2. Your personal life is no different in that a positive outlook and friendly disposition will go a long way in improving your relationships with friends and family members.

Everyone you encounter, from your spouse to clerk at your local convenience store will appreciate and respond favorably to a kind word and a smiling face.

By paying attention to interests and activities of others, you will never lack for conversation. Ask about other person's day, future plans, or any subject that you know is of interest to them.

The ability to converse effortlessly with those you encounter is a critical component of all your personal and business relationships.

Good communication skills promote an image of self-confidence and intelligence. This is not to say that those people who find it hard to strike up a conversation are less intelligent.

They simply need to develop appropriate skills. If you need to improve upon your communication skills, here are a few tips to help you get started down right path.

You can learn how to start a conversation and converse with anybody, anytime.

1. In order to make interesting conversation, you must be interesting to others. Keeping yourself informed on current events, staying involved in activities, and keeping a mental list of good topics of discussion are excellent ways to break ice. And a great tool to help you learn how to start a conversation with almost anybody.

2. Instead of focusing on how uncomfortable you feel, prepare yourself by thinking of issues that interest you most and what you would like to discuss about a particular subject.

A little preparation will go a long way in enabling you to easily converse with others. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

In general, people like to talk about themselves and will respond favorably when asked simple, friendly questions. Learning how to start a conversation is not quite as difficult if you prepare in advance.