communication skills
In order to improve your conversation skills, you need to remember a few simple steps as outlined in this article. If you are generally shy, it may feel awkward at first but if you keep trying you will become a good conversationalist fairly quickly.
Instructions
1. Be a Good Listener, Show Interest and Then Talk
The best way to get started is to join in on conversation in a group environment. Pay attention to people's conversations around you and then respond with your thoughts and opinions. If you listen to and remember what people are saying, you will gain a sense of what is important to them and have a starting point for your next conversation. As an example, if your coworker mentions her daughter's school activities frequently, the next time you see her, ask her a specific question about one of her daughter's activities. The idea is to show someone you remember and value their conversation.
2. Have Conversation Starters Ready
Start your morning with watching the news. Go to news websites online and glance through the headlines. Listen to a radio talk show on the way to work and keep some amusing anecdotes in mind for conversation starters. When you meet people ask them what they think about the latest news or tell them the amusing anecdote so they can get a laugh out of it and engage in conversation with you.
3. Make Your Conversation Relate-able
Once you have a sense of what is important to the person you are talking to, bring your conversation back to those topics so that the conversation holds meaning for them as well.
4. Take Public Speaking Classes
If you tend to be shy about talking in front of people, invest in a public speaking class and practice your presentation skills so you can gain confidence in your communication skills.
5. Learn to Ask Good Questions
Having conversation is a way to get to know another human being. If you have a sincere interest in getting to know someone, spend more time around them, listen and ask for their opinions and feedback. Good questions are open ended questions that allow the person you're talking to share a story. An example of an open ended question is "How did you spend your weekend?". A closed ended question is "Did you have a good weekend?". A closed ended question results in a "yes" or "no" answer and doesn't help the flow of conversation. An open ended question engages the other person in conversation.
6. Give Genuine Compliments
Be generous with sincere compliments and optimism. People are generally drawn to positive, outgoing people who value the people around them. If you are talking to someone and appreciate a comment or information that the other person is providing, make sure to genuinely tell them what you appreciate. Once people know that you care about their opinions, they will want to talk to you. You can improve your conversation skills by paying attention to the small details and caring about other people.
