Exploring Conversations

​Exploring conversations: Part 1

An Interactive TOPS Experience Coming Soon to IMAX

​The Goal of this Presentation is to:

• Provide insight into beneficial communication strategies with real-world applications.

• Incorporate interactive components to highlight a range of communication skills.

• Engage learners with materials designed to promote positive interpersonal outcomes.

Open Ended

There are two main parts to a conversation. What are the two parts?

1. Conveying thoughts, ideas, emotions, and information through language (Speaking)

2. Receiving conveyances (Listening).

Poll

From these choices, what do you believe is the most challenging things about participating in a conversation?

• Paying attention when others are talking

• Not having interesting things say

• Not being listened to by others

• Having too much that I want to tell people

Is there a Perfect Conversation?

We are going to watch a brief video demonstrating mastery of conversational skills as employed by between two intellectual titans.

Reflection

What worked well during that conversation?

What could be improved from that conversation?

Why are we talking about talking?

Paul Barnwell - Educator and Author

"Conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we fail to teach."

​Taking Turns to Talking Tactics

​Guides to Improved Communication

​# 1 Be Present

• Eye contact

• Repeating what is said

• Nodding

• Saying, "Uh huh...Uh huh..."

These are ways to convince people you're paying attention.
Instead, try to ACTUALLY pay attention. Don't put pressure on yourself to present in a certain way. Allow your reactions to be natural.

Reflection

What worked well during that conversation?

What could be improved from that conversation?

​Being Present:
Rely on Intuition and Engage Senses

• Notice tone and inflection - this includes gestures

• See the person communicating - without judgement

• Don't try to anticipate or predict reactions - just experience them

​​# 2 Mind the Details

• Struggling to recall minutiae

• Fixating on "sharing" the experience

  • It's okay to be passionate, don't expect anyone else to feel the same

• Monopolizing the conversation makes it NOT a conversation

Reflection

What worked well during that conversation?

What could be improved from that conversation?

​Pause for the Cause

We are going to use this as a point of temporary departure. Rest assured, we will (probably) be returning to this topic for continued guidance and developmental practice.

In the meantime, be present, be mindful.

Take care of yourself and each other.

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