Comment by looperhacks

As someone who really struggled with social interactions (and still does at times, just not as bad), this fails already at the first two steps:

> Listen-- really listen --and engage with open ears

How do I understand what is important? People say a lot of stuff, some important parts and some parts that are beside the point. Talking also involves identifying and reacting to the "important" bits, picking up the "wrong" stuff will be very weird. An exaggerated example:

> "We had a really bad traffic accident when we went to Sweden"

The obvious thing to engage with is the accident - but a struggling person might as well ask how they liked Sweden.

> When it's your turn to talk, offer up an anecdote [...]

I really struggled to even notice when it's "my turn" to talk. Either interrupting the other person or awkwardly looking at them until I notice or the other person tries to recover the situation.