And, most importantly, it is not about you. Don’t equate your experience with the person you are conversing: All experiences are different. But, it better to say “No” than look stupid. Say I don’t know if you don’t: It is indeed tempting to say yes to something that you are not aware of. Jumping or sticking to the old points stops the conversation take it natural course. Go with the flow: It is important to let go of certain points that pop into your mind. Use open-ended questions: Questions like, “What was it like?” or “How did it make you feel?” provoke more insightful responses. She raises her eyebrows and says, ” If you want to state your opinion without any opportunity for response or argument or pushback or growth, write a blog.” Don’t Pontificate: Set aside your personal opinions. It is crap.” She brings some real and basic tips, which if followed can bring the exact result that you ever wanted from a particular conversation. “Look the person in the eye, think of interesting topics to discuss in advance, look, nod and smile to show that you’re paying attention, repeat back what you just heard or summarize it. Celeste Headlee who has worked as a Radio Host for decades beautifully brings out in her insightful talk how to maintain and develop the lost art of conversation.

Interference by technology has made us more anti-social and poor in conversation and listening skills. Talking and listening to people – two most important things have changed radically in today’s generation. The conversation that comes so naturally, is becoming a dying art nowadays. Today, almost all the jobs in every domain require candidates who can communicate and converse well. Whether it is your interviewer, client, friend, manager, or a stranger, there are lots to learn from a great conversation – motivation, inspiration, a sense of genuine connection that can pave way for a fulfilling relationship.

Heard Mentality by Celeste Headlee