Secrets Of Good Conversation - Part 2

July 19, 2011

Interview with Don Gabor, author of the book How To Start A Conversation And Make Friends

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Mike Carruthers:
When you go to a social or business event in hopes of mingling you have to look approachable.

Don Gabor:
You want to have your body language open, in other words you want to have good eye contact, you want to smile, and you want to keep your arms unfolded. This is a….these are the signals that people pick up before you say one word.
 

Don Gabor, author of the book How To Start A Conversation And Make Friends... 

So if you want to attract people, you want to have open body language. And at the same time look for those folks that are displaying that kind of open body language because chances are they’re going to be more open to outside contact.

Another very important conversation strategy, says Don, is to balance your talking and listening.

Nobody likes to be in the conversation with somebody who’s just hogging the whole conversation. At the same time it’s no fun if you’re in a conversation and trying to get the other person to talk is like pulling teeth. So, balance it so that at the end of the conversation you kind of have a sense of each other.

And if you learn to listen strategically you’ll get much more out of the conversation.

You’re ability to listen and focus in on key words meaning behind the words and feelings that people imply or share but don’t necessarily come out and say – those are the kinds of clues that if you’re listening carefully they’re guides to what people really want to talk about.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here