Monday, February 22, 2010

How to Have Better Dinner Conversations

Ask a second question. The most interesting conversations come after the initial answer. It takes extraordinary discipline to refrain from answering your own question and, instead. answer a second question. Yet this is where the deepest conversations occur. I like to ask questions like these as follow-up questions:
  • How did it feel when that happened?
  • Can you elaborate on that?
  • Why do you think that is important to you?
  • Do you think you would have answered the same way five years ago?
  • What emotion do you feel when you describe that?

This is just one of several excellent 'rules' for good conversation. Not just at dinner but at any event where a group of people are gathered and in close proximity.

I chose this point (#4) because I agree that the most insightful discussions come from the follow up questions.

Posted via web from johnweldon4's posterous

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