Connsmitten.Get started

How to answer “How was your weekend?”

Answer with one thing you did, even after a lazy weekend, then ask about theirs. See which replies keep the conversation going, and why.

Get comfortable talking to people. Connsmitten is an app for building social confidence through short lessons and practice conversations, with feedback from your coach.

Bounce it back: Answer with something specific, then ask them something back.

Bounce it back

Monday morning, before the team meeting

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

LauraMorning! How was your weekend?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

Which answer bounces it back?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Good! My sister was visiting, so we walked all over downtown. Did you do anything fun?
Your sister and downtown give Laura something to ask about, and the question hands her the next turn.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Good, thanks. You?
“Good” is a finished answer. Laura has nothing to pick up, and “You?” puts the next line on her too.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
So good. My sister was visiting, and I dragged her to every spot downtown I love.
Plenty for Laura to ask about, and no question back. End with one about her weekend so she knows it’s her turn.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

Build confidence for your next conversation. Take a two-minute lesson, then have your first practice conversation with Dan.

Listen to Dan open the conversation

Hey! How was your weekend?

Dan
Get started

When nothing comes to mind

Bounce it back

IanDo anything fun this weekend?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

You: Nah, just a lazy one. You?

Does this reply keep the conversation going?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Ends it
A lazy weekend still had something in it, like a show you finished. Without it, Ian has nothing to ask about.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Keeps it going
That one dies on Ian’s side: a “You?” with nothing before it. Say “Lazy. I finally finished the show my sister keeps quoting. Did you do anything?”
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

Plant a hook

Plant a hook: Give one specific detail they can ask about.

AnnaHow was your weekend?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

You: Good! Did a bunch of stuff.

Does this reply keep the conversation going?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Ends it
A “bunch of stuff” hides every detail, so Anna has nothing to ask about.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Keeps it going
That one stalls, since Anna can’t ask about “stuff”. Name one thing: “Good! I spent Saturday at my nephew’s soccer tournament.”
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

When they tell you about their weekend

Take their hook

Take their hook: Ask about something they just said.

RayMy weekend was great. I took my son camping for the first time.

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

You: Nice. Mine was pretty quiet.

Does this reply keep the conversation going?

Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Ends it
That walks past the camping trip and turns it to you. Ray’s hook was right there.
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice
Keeps it going
That one kills it by moving to your weekend. Say “His first time! How did he do in the tent?”
Listen
Woman’s voice
Man’s voice

Big weekend. I spent Saturday helping my brother move into a fourth-floor walk-up, and somehow I still made it to my jiu-jitsu class.

When someone tells you about a big weekend

haha yeah, it was a good weekend

When a short text leaves you nothing to answer

What the research found

Strangers who took turns opening up liked each other more than pairs who talked in long one-sided stretches.
Sprecher and Treger, Personal Relationships, 2015

Your mission

Next time someone asks how you are, answer with something specific and ask them something back.

Build confidence for your next conversation. Take a two-minute lesson, then have your first practice conversation with Dan.

Listen to Dan open the conversation

Hey! How was your weekend?

Dan
Get started

How to talk to people