2. Avoid the robot response.
Rather than following the robotic question-answer sequence of, “How are you?” “Good. How are you?” try to actually answer how you feel. Make it personal. After somebody asks you how you are, you could say, “Actually, I’ve had better days. I spent entirely too much money last night and have nothing to show for it but a hangover and an empty wallet -- and I put my shoe on backwards this morning.”
Think there would be some follow-up conversation here? Probably.
Related: 6 Steps to 'Dancing' Through Conversations With Your Business Partners
3. Ask, don’t tell.