7 Tips That Will Make You Have a Terrific Conversation

Being an effective communicator is so vital to your success that it is practically impossible to do without it. You must learn to communicate effectively if you want to truly be successful.

In order to have a terrific conversation, you need to have a strategy towards achieving it. So what exactly is the strategy and how can you carry it out successfully? Here are seven tips to having a terrific conversation.

1. Have a goal for the conversation

Have a goal in mind before you start the conversation. Do you want to start the conversation to get to know the person better? Is the conversation more of like a business conversation or to get a date conversation? Knowing your goal for the conversation would help you steer it in the right direction.

According to the New York Times, the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds since 2000 to 8 seconds. This is shorter than the attention span of a goldfish which is 9 seconds. This means you need to hit the ground running when you start a conversation.

However, do this with finesse; it’s great if you can introduce your goal in a way which does not seem too forward to the other party. You could start by exchanging pleasant greetings first before you get into what you really want to say.

2. Seek to understand first

So many times, we jump into conversations hoping hear ourselves speak. We want the other party to understand us first without giving him/her a chance to speak. Next time, you are in a conversation, seek to understand the other party’s point of view first.

What is the other party really saying? Read between the lines. Show empathy. What are the pain points of the other party? If you would only get out of your own way, you would be able to understand the other party and have a terrific conversation.

3. Display confidence

People are naturally more attracted to other people who are confident. If you have self-limiting beliefs, this would affect you negatively in your conversations. Develop your confidence and you would see people want to listen to you.

4. Be a great listener

Listening is a skill which is critical to have a terrific conversation. Show the other party you are listening by asking questions which would make him/her elaborate further or simply repeat a phrase from what the other party said earlier on.

5. Be mindful of your body language

We need to be mindful of our body language because 50% or more of our conversations consists of body language. Watch your body posture, facial expressions, gestures, eye movement and voice tone. Your body language speaks more than your words. Face the other party directly and make eye contact. Give the person your full attention and don’t be easily distracted by anything or anyone around you.

6. Do not be quick to judge

Be careful to not be quick to judge the other party. You might not agree with his/her point of view; however, listen to it with patience. As the conversation goes on, you will understand where the other party is coming from. Be open-minded and flexible.

7. End the conversation in a beneficial way to both parties

Make sure to end the conversation in a beneficial way to you and the other party. Each party needs to end the conversation on a positive note. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines compromise as ‘something that combines the qualities of two different things’. Learn to compromise when necessary.

In conclusion, do all you can to have a terrific conversation. Communicating effectively and successfully is extremely important.

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FYI: Originally published on mysavvymind.com