Comments on: A Guide to Having More Meaningful Conversations

By: hey

hey — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:11:25 +0000

Wow i read this acticle and immeadiatly started having meaningful conversations. I just do not know what to say to the people who do not have meaningful conversations anymore. I look them in the eye and I say I am not sure what I want to order yet waitress, but how was your day and what do you think about gOD?
Thank you

By: Jimi

Jimi — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:05:13 +0000

Thank you so much for this article

By: Jason Simon

Jason Simon — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:23:26 +0000

I enjoy talking with friends and strangers about anything and everything – at coffee shops, cafés, and other third places. What helps me to engage an learn from others is having an attitude of openness towards difference.

By: Infosec Ramblings

Infosec Ramblings — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:56:27 +0000

Meaningful Conversation…

…

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:32:49 +0000

Great post. Awareness of my own communication habits has helped me have more meaningful conversations. Our body language communicates more than we are normally aware of. An example of this; someone is agreeing with what we are saying, but has their arms crossed on their chest. They are not really in agreement with us.
Tuning into nonverbal/body language can really boost a persons conversational compitance. A great book to read on this is “The definitive book of Body Language.” by Allan and Barbara Please.

By: Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah)

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:48:07 +0000

You’ve got to take a genuine interest in what other people have to say and encourage them to talk about their lives. Anything insincere will be pretty apparent.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:59:01 +0000

I agree. The most meaningful conversations I have are two-way exchanges that are very much about me, but they are also very much about the other person.

I think Scott has done well, though, to warn people about the dangers of being too self-absorbed.

By: Nightlife Serenade

Nightlife Serenade — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:08:04 +0000

I used to feel the same way as you. Now it works better for me when I think of interactions as a two-way conversation. To say that a conversation is not about me makes me not want to be in a conversation.

It is true that many people talk too much about themselves, and not enough about the other person.

A conversation is about two people enjoying eachother, and relating emotionally.

I teach social skills.

By: John Wesley

John Wesley — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:37:37 +0000

Bobbi,

Thanks for your thoughts. I love to see first time commenters!

I certainly agree that making conversation, for its own sake, can really add a human element to our day-to-day interactions. It’s amazing how interesting people are when you probe a bit beneath the surface.

As someone who is naturally reserved, it took me long time to develop the confidence to strike up conversations with strangers, but now there are few things I enjoy more.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:54:55 +0000

Thanks for the post. It’s such a treat, indeed, when I come away from a conversation knowing I’ve connected with someone. It’s connecting with the human in all of us that makes us feel so good. My kids laugh when I schmooze with store clerks. Why not? It makes me smile and I know for the ones who do more than grunt back, I’ve made the large, cold metropolis we live in more like a community. After a true conversation with a friend, we’ve blessed each other with what we all want: I see you and honor your existence. First time commenter, Bobbi