These tips are from my perspective on a Ted Talk about ten basic rules to follow if you want to have a good conversation with someone.

1. Don't multitask. When you are talking with someone, you should try to always be 100% in the conversation or 100% out. Never be half in and half out, for example when somebody is talking to you try to not think about arguments you had earlier, or something else that is unrelated to this topic.
2. Do not pontificate (express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic). Try to assume everyone you will ever meet knows something that you don't.
   Try to assume you will learn something from them. Then, try not to express annoying personal ideas 
3. Ask a simple question, like who, what, when, why. For example , "Were you terrified?" , "How did that feel?". It will get them thinking, and you're going to have a much better response.
4. Go with the flow. Let go of the thoughts and ideas that come to you. While the speaker is talking try to let go of the awesome ideas that come into your head and listen to the speaker instead.
5. If you don't know say you don't know. Like if someone asks you if you know subtraction and you only started doing 4-2 , but you say you can ,so they might hit you with a question like 34-(1450-439). Be more cautious about things you say is your area of expertise
6. Don't equate your experience with others. When they're talking about something tragic that happened to them, try not to step in and tell them about something tragic that happened to you.
7. Try not to repeat what you have said