“Hey. What’s up with you?”

“Nothing much”

“Oh! okay”

“Anyway, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing much”

And the conversation dies.

Have you also faced similar situations in your life?

When you genuinely wanted to have a deep and meaningful conversation with people around you, but the conversation ended somewhat like the above one. Effective communication is the precursor to any healthy relationship. Be it the relationship between co-workers, friends, families, or neighbors. A good conversation helps create a safe environment where both parties feel free to share their thoughts.

Imagine that you are new to any organization, and if you want to form a bond with your colleagues you will need to have meaningful conversations. Or, imagine going on a date with someone new; conversations will act as a medium to know each other. Therefore, be it your professional life or your personal life, conversations can make or break relationships. 

But, we have all gone through awkward situations in life when it became difficult to take conversations ahead. We know that it is much easier to start a conversation than to take it ahead.

Here are 5 tips that can help you keep the small talk aside and have meaningful conversations instead:

1) Be interested

You should be curious about the person you are conversing with. Be it your family member, your friend, your internet acquaintance, or your neighbor. If you genuinely show your interest, the conversation will keep going.

You will not learn anything if you will start the conversation by having preconceived notions and judgments. Always welcome the other person’s thoughts with an open mindset. Remember, each person has something new to offer! 

2) Ask open-ended questions

Don’t ask questions that result in ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answers. 

Such questions are a conversation killer!

If you genuinely want to know the other person, asking open-ended questions will encourage the other person to understand how they feel on a deeper level. 

For instance, instead of asking: How was your trip good?

Ask: Did you do anything exciting on your trip?

This will provide them with an opportunity to open up and share interesting details about the trip. 

3)  Listen more

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” -Ernest Hemingway

While having a conversation, it is important to ensure that you are not the only one who is speaking. You should also listen to what the other person is saying. You can show that you genuinely care for the other person by responding and reflecting on their words. This way, the conversation will move forward. 

4) Respond through your body language

A conversation is not just about spoken words!

Body language signs like eye contact, genuine nodding, and leaning in express interest. A positive body language can make the other person feel respected and comfortable. 

5) Ditch your phone! 

We love giving our attention to popping notifications.

Don’t we? The other person might feel insignificant if you remain glued to your phone. So next time, keep your phone away. 

In this technologically advanced world, a conversation might seem insignificant. However, we are still human beings, and conversations do matter!

“Although we live in an information technology age, we often find ourselves in failure to communicate situations.” – Johnny Tan

#stayawesomestayproductive

5 Tips to have more Meaningful Conversations