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Conversation techniques

Techniques > Conversation techniques

Holding a conversation is quite a useful skill that some people do naturally but the rest of us need to work at. Here are some methods and ideas you can use to initiate and sustain a sparkling conversation!

• Opening the conversation: How to get things going.

  • Ask them easy questions, Ask them about themselves, Check your list, More...

• Elements of the Conversation: Verbal actions within.

  • Informing, More...

• Their name: The most important thing you say.

  • Finding their name, Remembering their name, Using their name, More...

• Building rapport: Bonding with them.

  • Active care, Encouraging, Listening, More...

• Reflecting: Bouncing back what they have said.

  • Paraphrasing, Parroting, Extrapolating, More...

• Interrupting: Taking back control so you can speak.

  • Agreement Interrupt, Body Language Interrupt, Clarification Interrupt, More...

• Steering the conversation: For the talk you want.

  • Control answering of questions, Initiate new topics, More...

• Sustaining the conversation: Keeping things going.

  • Ask their opinion, Concern for the person, Interest in the person, More...

• Excusing: When things go wrong.

  • Acceptance, Accident, Bolstering, More...

• Closing the conversation: How to walk away.

  • Be negative, Body pointing, Caught short, More...

See also

Listening, Questioning techniques, Using Body Language, Argument, Communication, Use of Language, Public Speaking and Presentation, Games as Social Facilitation, Miller's Law

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