The document outlines 10 ways to improve conversations by being more engaged and active listeners. It notes that conversational skills are important but often overlooked in modern society where communication frequently occurs through screens instead of in-person. Some of the 10 tips include focusing fully on the conversation without distractions, asking open-ended questions, acknowledging what you don't know, listening more than speaking, and keeping discussions concise. The overall message is that mindful, empathetic communication helps create more meaningful interactions.

1. 10Ways to have a
better conversation
-Celeste Headlee

2. We are more
Polarized & Divided
ever in the history

3. Talking Listening
Conversation

4. Losing the
balance
due to
Technology

5. rd
American
teenagers
send more
than 100
text a day

6. ‘I came to realize that conversational
competence might be the single most
overlooked skill we fail to teach. Kids
spend hours each day engaging with
ideas and each other through screens,
but rarely do they have an opportunity
to hone their interpersonal
communication skills. It might sound like a
funny question but we have to ask
ourselves: is there any 21st century skill
more important than being able to
sustain coherent, confident
conversation?’ – Paul Barnwell

7. General Conversation Guidelines
•Look in the eye
•Think of topics in advance
•Nod and smile
•Repeat what you heard

8. Forget
Of It

9. Laws
of
Conversation

10. 1. Don’t Multitask
Be present
in that
moment

11. 2. Don’t Pontificate

12. 2. Don’t Pontificate
Everyone you will
ever meet knows
something that you
do not. Everybody is
an expert in
something.
-BILL NYE

13. 3. Use Open Ended Questions

14. 3. Use Open Ended Questions
H o
H a t
H e n
H e r e
H y

15. 4. Go with the flow

16. 4. Go with the flow
Thoughts will
come,
let them go

17. 5. If you do not know,
say that you do not know

18. 5. If you do not know,
say that you do not know
Talk should
not be
cheap

19. 6. Don’t equate your
experience with theirs
All
experiences
are individual

20. 7. Try not to repeat yourself

21. 8. Stay out of the weeds

22. 8. Stay out of the weeds
Forget the details

23. 9. Listen

24. 9. Listen
If your mouth is
open you are not
learning.
- Buddha

25. 9. Listen
No man ever
listened his way out
of a job
- Calvin Coolidge

26. 9. Listen
Most of us don’t listen
with intent to
understand, we listen
with the intent to reply
- Stephen Covey

27. 10. Be Brief

28. 10. Be Brief
A good conversation is like a
miniskirt; short enough to retain
interest, but long enough to cover
the subject
- Anonymous

29. • Be interested in other
people.
• Always be prepared to be
amazed.
• Go out, talk, listen.

30. 10 Ways to have better conversations
1. Don’t Multitask
2. Don’t Pontificate
3. Use Open Ended Questions
4. Go with the flow
5. If you do not know, say that you do not know
6. Don’t equate your experience with theirs
7. Try not to repeat yourself
8. Stay out of the weeds
9. Listen
10. Be Brief

31. Thank You