At Universal Events, we believe that you have to work at being a better communicator. After all, it’s not really something you’re ever taught; in most cases, you just have to pick it up on your own. We’d like to offer a few basic tips for becoming the type of conversation partner that people love. If you want to be appreciated as a good communicator, stop trying to impress. While we all want to make a good first impression and win others’ respect, coming on too strong can make you look foolish. Trying to sound smart often makes you look stupid, and studies have shown that name-dropping simply doesn’t work. The better approach is to speak candidly about who you are and how you feel. In other words, vulnerability is much more attractive than overly confident bluster. People love to talk about themselves, so one sure way to win them over in conversation is to ask them about their thoughts and opinions. When you listen to them, be open to things with which you disagree and reserve judgment. You absolutely should avoid correcting them on anything or saying anything that could be construed as competitive or one-upmanship. Also, be sure you’re doing more than just nodding; repeating the last few words they said as a question is a good way to show you’re really interested and keep the conversation moving. Put these tips into action the next time you’re talking with a new acquaintance or business contact. You’ll quickly become a valued conversationalist.
