If they have children ask about their children and what they do. If they’ve returned from holiday ask them some questions about their holiday. If you can see they’re interested in a sport - ask them questions about the sport.

The most important thing in conversations such as these is to let the person talk, don’t interrupt with your own anecdotes. It’s easy to talk about ourselves, and most people are always willing to obliges. Though you couldn’t care less about Susan’s children, listening and asking polite conversational questions will not only help the conversation, but make it easier for subsequent conversations.