Many conversations these days end up in arguments and people getting offended. Politicians can’t even have a conversation without the discussion turning into a heated, emotional argument. We are more divided and stubborn than ever before. Children have also been more conversationally inept recently. This is due to technology advancing and smartphones becoming more convenient and accessible. Most teenagers text their friends more than they talk to them in person. With schools not compensating for this, children’s conversational skills are deteriorating at a rapid rate. The speaker offered 10 ways to improve and have better conversations.
- Be in the moment, always be engaged
- Don’t pontificate. Set aside yourself and your personal opinions when they aren’t welcome.
- Ask open ended questions.
- Go with the flow of the conversation.
- Say that you don’t know if you don’t know.
- Don’t try to “relate” to their conversation by saying that you’ve done the same thing.
- Don’t repeat yourself.
- Stop caring about the details so much when you talk.
- Listen to the other person.
- Be brief. Be interested in the other person.