How to Have Conversations That Make You Confident You Can Talk to Anyone

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of conversation. Some of us have found opportunity in speaking more often with friends and family, given that we're all a bit less busy. For others, they prefer "doing stuff" like shared activities - the idea of phone calls just to talk is less appealing, unfamiliar, and maybe a bit daunting.

We know that social interaction and a sense of belonging and connection are key components to well being, so we're leaning on conversation more than usual to mitigate isolation. If you're shying away from conversing because you don't feel great at it or comfortable doing it, then here are some ideas to make it easier.

• Think of a conversation as a game of catch. The ball gets tossed back and forth, just as topics / questions / responses bounce back and forth. In order to catch the ball, we have to pay attention to how and where the ball is thrown. Similarly, in order to respond effectively, we have to listen. When we toss the ball back it's helpful to pay attention to the other's distance, location, and abilities. Similarly, we want to be thoughtful of the person and ask them questions, reflect what we heard, or offer a new idea. Back and forth back and forth...

• Finally, for every conversation you have, make it a priority to learn at least 1 thing about that person. This can help encourage attention to reciprocity and a good ball toss.
  

What matters to you in conversation?