Q: Think of it like a credit card. How happy would the person you're talking to be if you gave them money for their guidance or opinion? They'd probably feel pretty good about themselves. They'd feel just as good if you gave them the credit.  Thank the person for their recommendation or advice. If your friend recommends a restaurant, tell the people you're with, "X suggested we come here. Isn't it great?" Always give credit for success when it's warranted. If you did well on a project at work, you might say something like:  "I have a great team working with me; they make it all happen." It takes selflessness and an ability to recognize the strengths of others to do this. Doing so makes your conversation partner more engaged and feel good about speaking with you, because she knows you'll also be saying good things about her. Some examples of compliments include:  "Doesn't Gina look stunning in that dress? Just incredible. And, it actually pales in comparison to her wit!" "I think Evelyn's thoughts on the global warming issue are incredibly insightful and full of potential solutions. Why don't we go join her? I think you'll find her fascinating." Listening, really listening, is an art. It requires you to let go of yourself and your thoughts, and focus solely on what the other person is saying. This effort allows you to truly melt away. Your need to talk about yourself dissipates, then disappears. Make a pact with yourself that you won't speak unless your conversation partner puts the ball in your court. Then make another pact:  you'll put the ball right back to her and go back to listening. This means fully concentrating on what the other person is saying and requires you respond to the speaker by paraphrasing or restating his main point(s).  You can also add a little something when you finish paraphrasing by using different phrases:  which means that; so then; that would require; you would then; etc., and then add your thoughts on what happens next. Non-verbal cues like nodding your head, smiling, and other facial/physical expressions let the other person know you're engaged and have feelings about everything he's saying.. Additional questions that give your conversation partner more time to talk about her subject are also key, and there are several different types, including:  Closed questions. These are often “yes or no” questions. They're answered in one way or the other, and the line of questioning stops there. Open-ended questions. These give your conversation partner ample room to expand on what she's already been talking about and gives you a more well-rounded knowledge of her subject. These questions often start with phrases like:  "How do you see..." or "What/why do you think..." It depends on the situation and topic you've been talking about. Think of it as either a personal or general validation.  You (Personal):  "Wow, it takes a lot of courage to look at yourself so openly and admit things like that." You (General):  "That is one of the most insightful analyses of the issue I've ever come across."
A: Offer credit. Compliment other people. Engage in the art of listening. Try active listening techniques. Ask questions. Validate what your conversation partner says.

Q: An interesting way to spark a riveting conversation is to debate. Simply choose a topic and have one person argue for it and another to argue against it.  Remind yourself and your companions that the debate is just a game. A fun debate can quickly turn into a heated argument that might create discomfort between everyone in the car. Choose funny and light-hearted topics. Avoid heavy or complex topics to keep everyone in good spirits. Instead of arguing about morals or religious beliefs, debate about whether strawberries are the best kind of berry or whether squirrels are cute or just plain annoying. There are many word games that can be competitively fun and entertaining, in situations where you're driving alone or with others:  Have a spelling bee. Name all the countries of the world. Name all the states or provinces or a country. Think of words that rhyme with each other as fast as you can. Whoever stops the pace, loses. Say one word at a time. Have each person say one word to create a sentence or story. You might come up with some hilarious examples. Read aloud a book or play and have everyone in the car act out a role or multiple roles. The driver should not participate in this game. If you're driving with others, get to know one another. Ask each other questions or play a variety of games:  Play two truths and a lie. Have one person tell two truths and a lie. The others must guess which statements are truths and which one is a lie. Play Never Have I Ever. Each person will keep track of their own points, or hold up 10 fingers, or even be prepared to drink or eat something every time someone says something they have never done, but has actually done the activity. For example, Sally will say, "Never have I ever danced on stage." If Bob has danced on stage before, he will lose a point or have to eat or drink something to show that he has indeed done that activity. Play truth or dare. However, be careful when designing the dares, ensuring that they can be safely done inside or outside the car. See how many things you can see during your car ride. You can try counting:  Certain colours of cars. People walking on the road. Birds. Animals. Certain chain stores or buildings. License plates of cars from your area or your destination.
A:
Have a debate with your car companions. Play word games. Enact a dramatic performance or play. Get to know one another. Count things.