Conversation is not just about meeting new people. It is a way to learn and grow. The catch is, not just any conversation has that potential. To have a meaningful conversation, you need to connect with people.
Malavika Varadan, a Bollywood radio host, has a great way to think of conversations, especially if you're the kind of person who is intimidated by starting conversations with strangers. She said in a 2016 TED Talk that conversations are links. Every conversation we have opens the door and builds a stronger link. If you're looking for tips to take the dread out of new talks with new people and move toward more meaningful conversations, here are a few tips.
1. Enter a conversation to learn about the other person. Conversation, especially with new acquaintances, is not an opportunity to hold forth with your opinions. Instead, it is a chance to learn about someone else, who they are, what they love, and what they believe.
2. Don't be afraid to ask a somewhat personal question. Varadan recommends starting a conversation by asking where a person is from.
3. Focus on the conversation. It shows greater respect for the people you speak with if you put your phone away and truly concentrate on what is happening in the conversation. According to radio host and conversation advocate Celeste Headlee,, there's no reason to show you're paying attention if you're paying attention.,
4. Do not equate your experience with theirs. If the person you're talking to is going through something, you want to show that you can empathize, but when you start talking about your experience with the same life situation, it has the opposite effect and can make the conversation unpleasant.
5. Be brief, don't repeat, and eliminate the details. When you're trying to prove a point, and you repeat the same information several times, it impedes connection. Don't dig to find names and dates that the other person doesn't know and doesn't care about.
With these five dos and don'ts, you may just find that you're enjoying conversations more, and avoiding the meaningless discussions of the weather and other safe conversations.
