So how do we ensure our conversations all go well?
There’s no magic bullet, but there are some mistakes we can avoid to better connect with others.
Unfortunately, my life is still filled with other kinds of conversations, too!
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“Conversational mistakes often create a sense of disconnection and can lead to problems in relationships,” saysDr.
Meghan Marcum, Chief Psychologist at AMFM Healthcare.
This goes for all types of relationships, as most of our interactions are centered around our communication abilities.
Over time, these mistakes can contribute to people feeling misunderstood, and others may eventually avoid conversations altogether.
They could even end our relationships.
Common Mistakes in Conversations
Here are the most common mistakes we might make regardless of ourcommunication style.
Interrupting
It can be challenging to stay silent when you have something to say.
In general, starting to talk before someone else has finished is considered rude and disrespectful.
“Interrupting someone may often contribute to perceptions of being devalued or slighted,” Marcum notes.
It’s boring and can make the other person feel like they don’t matter.
Striking a balance between sharing is the heart of good conversation.
It can make the person wonder if they even need to be there!
It’s important to remember that discussions thrive on a back-and-forth dynamic.
No one wants to watch a person hitting a tennis ball against a wall all night.
We may be trying to help, butunsolicited advicecan make someone else think we find them to be helpless.
It’s the difference between “Do you like your drink?”
and “What do you like about your drink?”
that can make a question prompt a one-word answer to an invitation for a paragraph or two.
Using Dismissive Language
Respect is everything in many areas of life, and conversations are no exception.
She says that “it can very quickly erode dialogue and create a barrier between two people.
According to Caspersen, we should “listen with curiosity and acknowledge what the person has said.”
To avoid misunderstanding and ensure engagement, it’s possible for you to summarize what your partner said.
Lastly, we want to keep things as personable as possible.
Avoid conflict by using affirming language and operating from a place of curiosity.
Promoting Healthy and Balanced Conversations
We can avoid these mistakes by being more present in our conversations.
What are you trying to figure out right now?
Whichever method you choose, better conversations can be on the horizon for you.
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