How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching With Meta Communication | Page 81
2. Listen.
Learn how to make conversation by actively listening to
other people and by concentrating on what they say and
how they say it. It doesn't matter who or where they are.
Even if you disagree with their opinions, listening to
others helps you form your opinions and it provides
insight as you learn how to make conversation.
Try to see how others communicate. A conversation is
more than just words. As others make conversation
watch their body language and listen to the variation in
the pitch of their voices. Listening is very important but
if all you do is listen to the words you will miss most of
what they are communicating.
Learning how to make converstaion is about seeing and
understanding body language as well as listening
3. Humility
As we make conversation we all make mistakes, and
sometimes we mispronounce our words, stutter or even
slur words. If you realize you've made a mistake ask if
you pronounced it correctly or ask if you used the word
in the right context. People accept honest mistakes,
however if you are always using long words just to show
off they will quickly lose interest.
In understanding how to make conversation remember
your audience is more forgiving than you are, don't be
too hard on yourself when you make mistakes
4. Make
Eye
Contact
with your
Audience
When listening and speaking use eye contact to maintain a
connection with your audience. It doesn't matter if you
have an audience of one or one hundred maintaining eye
contact keeps the in the conversation. But don't lock eyes
and stare.
If you're in conversation with just one person allow them a
break. Staring continuously at them will make them feel
uncomfortable so look around regularly, but don't talk to
your shoes or talk while facing away from them. If you are
talking to a larger group exchange looks with different
members of your audience while talking. Don't spend too
long looking at one person and don't ignore others.
As you understand how to make conversation remember eye contact keeps your audience with you.
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