Ted - 10 ways to have a better conversation Flashcards
10 ways to have a better conversation
We’re not listening to each other anymore. Mainly due to technology.
Conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we have failed to teach.
1/ Don’t multitask. Be present. Be in that moment.
2/ Don’t pontificate (express one’s opinion in a dogmatic way). If you wanted to state your opinion without any opportunity for response, argument, pushback or growth, write a blog.
You need to enter every conversation with the possibilty of learning something. Sometimes this means setting aside your personal opinion.
Everyone you will ever meet knows something that you don’t. Everybody is an expert in something.
3/ Use open-ended questions.
4/ Go with the flow
5/ If you don’t know say that you don’t know
6/ Don’t equate your experience with theirs. All experiences are individual.
7/ Try not to repeat yourself. It is boring.
8/ Stay out of the weeds. People don’t care about the details. Forget them.
9/ LISTEN - the most important skill
Nobody ever listened his way out of a job.
If your mouth is open you’re not learning.
Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply.
10/ Be brief. Be interested in other people.
