REPOST …. By George Journal asks, ‘What makes a good conversationalist?’ Here are three pointers to be that ‘gracious host’ or that ‘guest you must remember to invite again next year.’
#1. A good conversationalist is a great listener. When people engage in conversation, most feel that what they have to say is important. Nothing signals more to a person that you are interested in them than to give undivided attention to what they are saying. Listen intently, ask questions and provide comments; don’t mindlessly nod and continually glance over the person’s shoulder to see what is happening across the room.
#2. What you say will not likely be remembered, but how you make people feel will not be forgottened. It’s most important to smile when you greet and depart an individual or group. Make and keep eye contact with those you are speaking with. Use appropriate body language and facial gestures to demonstrate your engagement and enjoyment in the conversation(s).
#3. Be ever-ready to share a great story or series of anecdotes. Enliven conversations with personal observations, remarkable sayings, and a provocative question or two. Over the past few weeks, By George Journal provided a series of conversation-starters. Here are our five favourite from the “Over the Eggnog Bowl” posts for your holiday exchanges.
- Is Santa coming to your family this Christmas? You do believe in Santa, right!?
- If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
- How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
- Joy is found with simple awareness. What does your joy look like today?
- It used to be that at a party one should never discuss religion, sex and politics. Does this still stand? Are there other subjects that need to be added to this list of avoidable conversations?
(ed. – This is a repost, picked as one of our favourite three posts of 2011, taken from the earlier posts on the By George Journal. The original post is here.)
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