The quickest way to foster a bond with someone new is to keep your mouth shut, says Joan Lloyd, a Milwaukee consultant who teaches clients how to interview prospective employees. “Reflective listening―
where you summarize what they say―is also very important,” adds Denise Winston, a professional matchmaker in New York City. A quick Internet search on your new friend will help you steer the conversation toward his areas of interest, says Adele Testani, cofounder of the speed-dating agency HurryDate.