Are You Ready to Listen or Waiting to Speak?

Do you ever feel frustrated during conversations? Does your conversation partner give you time to respond? Do they ask meaningful questions, or do they bombard you with interrogations? Do you walk away feeling stressed rather than engaged?

Two common conversation pitfalls can make interactions feel one-sided or frustrating:

1. The Assumer

Ashley asks Lindsay questions and appears interested, but Ashley often assumes the answer. For example:

“Jack is still working at Amazon, right?”

This could be an attempt to show she remembers past conversations, but what if she’s wrong? Lindsay may feel frustrated by constantly having to correct Ashley.

A better way to ask would be:

• Is Jack still working at Amazon?

• Where is Jack working now?

• What is Jack up to these days?

By keeping questions open-ended, Ashley allows Lindsay to provide accurate and updated responses, leading to a more engaging and pleasant conversation.

2. The Hijacker

Rick is excited to tell Jay about his vacation, but Jay immediately shifts the conversation to himself:

Rick: I just came back from a trip to Europe!
Jay: Oh, I was there last summer. It was wonderful. We went to...

Jay unintentionally hijacks the conversation, making it about his own experiences. Instead, he could show interest in Rick’s story:

Jay: That sounds great! What was your favorite place?

This response encourages Rick to share more and keeps the conversation balanced.

Key Takeaways for Better Conversations

• Be curious - ask open-ended questions.

• Don’t assume the answer - let your conversation partner speak.

• Take turns - don’t hijack the conversation.

• Listen actively - you may be surprised by what you learn!

Next time you chat with someone, pay attention to your approach. Are you an Assumer or a Hijacker? Or are you fostering a true dialogue?

What other conversation pitfalls to you hear?

Reach out to LKWilner@successfully-speaking.com with any questions about how to Speak, Sound, and Look like a Leader and communicate with confidence, clarity, and credibility.