Want to Have Better Conversations? Watch this TED talk and Learn How to in 10 Simple Ways

No doubt the development of Information and Communications Technology has been very beneficial to mankind, but this development may lead to difficulty in improving one of the most important skills the 21st Century human needs to possess  – interpersonal communications.

In this TED talk, Celeste Headlee gives you 10 ways to have a better conversation. Celeste has been working in public radio since 1999 as a reporter, host and correspondent.

“Now, I actually use the exact same skills as a professional interviewer that I do in regular life. So, I’m going to teach you how to interview people, and that’s actually going to help you learn how to be better conversationalists. Learn to have a conversation without wasting your time, without getting bored, and, please God, without offending anybody,” she says.

In a humourous manner, Celeste discredits popular advice like “look the person in the eye, think of interesting topics to discuss in advance, look, nod and smile to show that you’re paying attention, repeat back what you just heard or summarize it”.

“There is no reason to learn how to show you’re paying attention if you are in fact paying attention,” she says.

Watch:

Photo Credit: Dreamstime