Very few people spoke and he did not initiate conversation with anyone.

He'd expected her to initiate a conversation, but after several minutes, she'd said nothing, so he spoke.

He is still content to wait for someone else to initiate conversation.

Unfortunately, I lack the ability to initiate conversation with such a being.

To initiate a conversation she needs to be the first to begin sharing, even if her partner has little to say.

In fact, find someone else who seems shy and try to help them by initiating a conversation.

He only once initiated a conversation with me, coming from the edge of his driveway to ask, "Have you seen my dog?"

She was encouraged not to give up initiating conversation but to find those other times when he could listen.

Three years later, Will responds to others and initiates conversation.

He made no eye contact, did not initiate conversation, though his work partner clearly wanted to make a connection.