Are you someone who struggles with indulging in a genuine and open conversation with others? Do you feel that being able to communicate clearly is a skill that you can never acquire no matter how much effort you put in.
Yes, some people seem to be natural at making conversations with others. However, it is not something that one can not acquire with enough practice and time.
Here are some key things that you need to keep in mind while trying to engage in a genuine and cordial conversation.
Be respectful
Talking politely and being mindful of not crossing your boundaries lays the groundwork for having any kind of conversation. This helps you grasp other person’s attention in a way that they feel relaxed and uninhibited. Once you’ve held their attention, it gives you a chance to initiate a conversation.
Another important thing to bear in mind, is that you need to be respectful of their opinions. You are not always aware of people’s situations in life or their state of mind. You don’t know how they perceive or react to the things that they experience.
It is important that you understand where people are coming from before you disregard their opinions as petty or unreasonable. Nobody wants to have a conflict over what their values/opinions are while having a conversation. We all want to be understood. And even if other person’s opinions strike you as unreasonable and you wish for them to see things in a different light, it can only be done respectfully through exchange of ideas.
Listen with attention
One of the biggest fear that stops people from making conversation is – “what are they supposed to say?” But here’s a thing, you won’t know what to say unless you pay attention to what the other person is saying. People speak not only words, but also emotions. When you listen to others speak carefully, it gives you a glimpse into their mental and emotional state, which helps you generate a thoughtful response.
You do not want to be the person who speaks over the other person trying to get your point across. This is a clear sign that you’re only interested in having a one-sided conversation. You have to be patient with your listening and inquisitive in their ideas and opinions. This quality of active listening makes the other person feel willing to stay in the conversation.
Be open-minded
If you really want the conversation to lead somewhere, you have got to be keep an open mind. Being open-minded does not limit to respecting other people’s opinions. It calls for challenging yourself to examine things in a new light and assess your pre-established ideas.
When you try to see things through someone else’s eyes, you’re not only validating their opinions and ideas, but you are willing to be receptive of a new or a different way of looking into things. Being open-minded in a conversation not only shows that you respect other person’s views but also implies that you are trying to understand their perspective. It This attitude of considering new ideas and opinions appeals to people since it makes them feel acknowledged and understood.
Lose the distractions
People feel annoyed when you leave them hanging in a conversation. Checking to see the notification that chimed in on your phone, answering your texts/calls in the middle of the conversation, looking away every now and then instead of looking at them, puts people in a very uncomfortable situation. They feel unattended and unwilling to be keep the conversation going.
So keep away from all kinds of distractions with your entire focus on the conversation and the person you’re conversing with.