Power Conversation: How to Maintain a Conversation (Part 3a of 3)

Once we’ve made a strong first impression and started the conversation with confidence, how can we maintain the conversation and make sure that this ends up being a positive experience for both people? We’ll take a look at the following points in depth:

• 3 Keys to Success
• How to be an “Active Listener”
• A Simple and Practical Strategy for Responding Naturally

All right, let’s get to it!

How do I maintain a conversation?

In the third part of the “Power Conversation” series, let’s continue to build on what we’ve learned up until this point. We know how to make a good first impression and open a conversation confidently so what’s next? You might be thinking:

“I don’t know how to continue a conversation.”

“I don’t know what question to ask.”

Or

“My vocabulary isn’t good enough.”

First, it is completely naturally to feel these things if you have never been taught how to do it before. Also, if you have had negative experiences in conversations before, you might be feeling a bit down on yourself.

3 Keys to Success

Well, here are 3 keys to help you reach a more successful outcome next time.

1. Empathy
2. Curiosity
3. Sincerity

Empathy-This is basically understanding how another person feels. Usually we can understand what someone else is feeling in a situation because we have had a similar experience in the same situation. If you can truly show empathy to another person in conversation, it will open up many doors of opportunity.

Example
Person A: “I really enjoyed the presentation but it was a bit difficult to hear the speaker due to the bad sound equipment.”
Person B: “Oh yes, that must have been very frustrating for you.”

Curiosity-This is having an interest in another person. If you are meeting someone by your own choice, hopefully you are talking because you are interested in that person for some reason. Maybe they look attractive, or perhaps they just gave a great speech, or maybe they are the boyfriend of your sister. For any reason, you want to get to know them in more depth and learn more about them, even if you don’t share the same particular interests. This is where your questions will come from.

Example
Person A: “Recently, I’ve gotten into hot yoga.”
Person B: “Really? Hot yoga? I’m afraid I don’t know what that is. Can you tell me more about it?”

Sincerity-This is being honest and true to yourself. You don’t have to open up about everything personal in your life but what you do choose to share, make sure you are honest to yourself. When another person sees that self integrity, they will naturally admire it and view it very positively as a high level of self confidence and understanding. They will trust you more feel more open to ask you questions.

Example
Person A: “How do you like living in Tokyo?”
Person B: “It’s great! I really enjoy it.”
Person A: “But don’t you think the summers are too hot and humid?”
Person B: “Hmm, yes, that’s a good point. Well, actually, to be honest, I like the hot summers. I love going to the beach and I don’t mind the humidity so much.
Person A: “Really? Is your hometown humid too?”

If you keep these 3 Keys to Success in mind, I promise that you will be able to maintain a conversation better than before.

In order to keep this post brief, I have decided to save the second half for a separate post. In Part 3b, we will look at “Active Listening” and a simple speaking strategy to help you raise your conversation level to POWERFUL.