Being a better conversationalist: asking the right questions
I recently read an intriguing article by Shane Snow in Fast Co. about how to ask the right questions in order to have more meaningful conversations. I love sitting around chatting but afterwards I often think to myself "I wish I would have thought to ask this -" or "I wish I could have learned more from that person." Of course reporters know the art of asking the right question second-nature, and finally they have let us take a peek behind the curtain to learn their secrets. My two favorite tips were:
"You’re the one with the question; why are you doing all the talking? Terminate the sentence at the question mark. It’s OK to be brief."
"Learn to be comfortable with silence. Allow your respondent to think; don’t jump in with possible answers after a few seconds pass. You won’t get answers if you keep talking, and you’ll rarely learn anything if you offer all the answers."
The article is geared towards helping you become more successful in your career, but being a good conversationalist is an essential skill for being successful in life in general, don't you think?