Awhile back one of my favorite blogs did a post about the (lost) art of letter writing. I would like to take it a step further and say that real, honest, authentic conversation…aka..discourse…is a swiftly dying art.
One only need look at the recent surge of popularity of Twitter, Facebook and the like. Status updates and “tweets” are now a regular part of not only the print lingo of young adults but the spoken vernacular as well. If one can’t say it in a “soundbyte” it ought not be said; at least that is the modern motto.
So what can one do in this world ever dwindling attention spans…here are a few tips, in my humble opinion, that I hope prove helpful…
Skip the Movie…Go Old School
While I am a big fan of movies, they don’t exactly foster great conversation. Playing a good came of cards, going fishing or hunting, building a puzzle together, etc…are just some ways you can open the floor to great conversation. In addition, these activities force one to be intentional and thoughtful…which in turn can help broaden the attention span.
Skip the Superficial…Go Deeper
“Small minds talk about people, Good minds talk about events, Great minds talk about ideas”. While this may sound like a cliché, it is a good motto to guide great conversation. Don’t just gossip or discuss trivial superficial events, instead dig deeper to things that actually matter. You can learn a lot about a person if you are willing to do this and you will find your friendships have much deeper roots.
Ask Questions…Don’t Assume
Not everyone grew up like you, and not everyone thinks like you. If a comment comes across as rude, insulting or puzzling, ask questions to clarify the speaker’s intent. Don’t just assume they meant something mean or hateful.
Find Common Ground
Even if you disagree on just about everything, attempt to find some common ground with your intraocular. It makes for a good starting and ending point and leaves a good taste in the mouth of everyone involved. I am not saying one should lie or even capitulate or kowtow, what I am saying is that you should listen and make a strong attempt to find something you agree on. This way, you will have a better chance of having a great conversation in the future with this person.
I hope this info has proven helpful.
