Top Three Tips for Having a Healthier Conversation
- Talk less, listen more – If your mouth is open, you are not listening. Active listening requires you to be 100% present and to pay attention to what the other person is saying without interruption and without judgment. Repeat what you have heard back to them to confirm what they have said and avoid making assumptions. As Stephen Covey would say, “Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply.”
- Ask good questions – Open-ended questions like “What was that like?”or “How did it feel?” show you are actually interested in what they are saying and want to delve deeper into the conversation. Everyone wants to be heard and validated.
- Practice empathy – It’s not about you. Seek to understand their perspective and share in their emotions. This will help you connect genuinely on a deeper level and gain a better understanding. Keep an open mind and put yourself in the place of the others.
Communication is a two-way street built on respect and commitment, which creates the bridge from understanding to resolution and promotes healthy, happy, and successful relationships.
Antoinette Giacobbe M.A.
