Ways to have a better conversation
As writer and radio host Celeste Headlee states, “there is no reason to learn to show that you’re paying attention if you are, in fact, paying attention.” Simply, we need to spend less time learning how to show people that we are listening and spend more time learning how to actually listen to each other and converse effectively. Here are some ways that you can have a better conversation: 1. Don't Multitask Don’t think about your argument you had with your boss. Don’t think about what you’re going to have for dinner. If you want to get out of the conversation, get out of the conversation but don’t be half in it and half out of it. Be present and be in the moment. 2. Use open ended questions avoiding very closed-ended questions which could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Instead, “Try asking them things like, ‘What was that like?’ ‘How did that feel?’ Because then they might have to stop for a moment and think about it...