The art of conversation can be a valuable skill. You talk to your spouse, mentor, child, business partner, coworkers—and typically anyone else you meet. When you learn the art of conversing, your life might benefit in many areas. Strong conversation skills can help you build more meaningful connections in your life. These skills can help you do things like expand your social circles, improve relationships, start a business or advance your career.
Good communicators know how to start and carry a conversation, but most of us can use a little help. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some practical tips that will help you rule the art of conversation.
Getting Started With A Great Conversation
Being a great communicator means adapting yourself to the conversation at hand. Sometimes, that means that you’ll have to carry on a conversation. Other times, you’ll simply have to ask the right questions and listen attentively.
However, to master the art of conversation, consider these three fundamentals:
- Introduction and the “get-to-know-each-other.” How you open can help you “jumpstart” the conversation and lead it in a successful direction.
- Rapport building. Starting with small talk and going deeper with questions can help you build a connection or relationship with the other person (or people).
- Steering the conversation. The balance of speaking and listening in a conversation is important. Being able to change the subject or steer the conversation in a different direction can keep it flowing (or help you end it gracefully).
Let’s jump into some simple tips that’ll help you improve your conversation skills both personally and professionally.
- Lead With A Compliment.
- Be Kind, Friendly And Use Open Body Language.
- Embrace Small Talk.
- Ask Good Questions.
- Show Empathy And Engage In Active Listening.
- Keep It Positive.
Tips to Master The Art Of Conversation At Work
While many tips can apply to both personal and professional conversations, some extra tips can be beneficial to becoming an expert at the art of conversation at work. Great conversations can mean greater transparency, better communication and collaboration, and more productive conflict resolution.
- Identify your goals or motives.
- Choose the right time.
- Avoid controversial topics.
- Make the information concise, specific and easy to understand.
Things to Avoid If You Want to Excel At The Art Of Conversation
If you want to have great conversations, learning how to avoid these common communication pitfalls can help.
- Avoid Brightsiding
- Don’t Automatically Give Advice
- Don’t Interrupt The Person Speaking
Improve Your Conversations And Improve Your Life
A great conversation involves an authentic connection between two people. If you show a genuine interest in the other person, engage in active listening and ask questions to move the conversation to a deeper level, you’ll be well on the way to mastering the art of conversation. Remember to tailor your approach to the individual you’re speaking with; since everyone’s personalities are different, there’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach. Yet by keeping it positive, focusing on the other person and avoiding common pitfalls, you can excel at having meaningful conversations.
Being a great conversationalist can go a long way. Whether it’s in your personal or professional relationships, you can build bridges, forge stronger connections and improve your life by mastering a few simple communication skills.
Photo by: Josep Suria/Shutterstock
