How To Be A Better Conversationalist

A few tips on how to talk and how to listen

- Vandana J. Desai

It’s amazing how a conversation can make or I break you. Many jobs or relations suffer because we haven’t learnt to become good listeners. With technological advancements, the fine art of conversation is fast disappearing. Human interactions are slowly being replaced by sophisticated gadgets like iPhones, iPods, smart phone, androids, emojis etc.

A few pointers to improve the task of human interactions:

• Don’t be dogmatic. If you are highly opinionated, overly assertive or dominant and tend to make strong statements, then you can come through as preachy which is boring for the other person. Every person is different and has a take on the topic at hand. If you enter a conversation with a point of learning something new, then invariably you become a patient listener; be ready to learn something new from each one you meet or have a conversation with. Flexibility in speech and thoughts is also the yogic way of living.

• Put aside your phone and gizmos