For some people, the thought of walking up to a stranger and starting a casual conversation is panic inducing. It’s a struggle for many of us. Even if the person is a casual acquaintance, it can be awkward. Those uncomfortable with breaking the ice can find themselves crippled in professional settings, especially when it comes to networking.

The good news is that once we get over our uneasiness, there are things we can say or questions we can ask of just about anyone, in any setting, to get the conversation rolling. Simply committing these to memory can make the process easier and improve the quality of your conversations.

Charlie Houpert of Charisma on Command has three simple approaches he uses when starting a conversation. To learn more, watch Three Easy Ways to Start a Conversation with Anyone.