A very interesting Ted talk on how to have better conversation. Very insightful

2. Based on a TEDx talk by:
Celeste Headlee
Host | Public Radio International Reporter for Day to Day
Alumni
Michigan Opera Theatre
“A good conversation is like a mini skirt; short enough to retain attention but
long enough to cover the subject.” – Celeste Headlee

3. Do we avoid people?

4. Conversation requires a balance
between talking & listening
 Technology has had a lot to do with this
 Over a third of American teenagers send about
more than 100 texts in a day
 Also these teenagers are more likely to text their
friends than talk to them face to face

5. Conversational competence is the
single-most overlooked thing
In this 21st century, there is no single most
important things than having a good
conversation.

6. 10 Simple ways to have a better
conversation

7. 1. Don’t multi- task
Be present in the conversation, don’t think about any
previous arguments or future events

8. 2. Don’t pontificate
If you want to state your opinion without any
opportunity for response or argument or pushback or
growth, write a blog

9. 3. Use open- ended questions
Try asking things like, "What was that like?" "How did
that feel?" Because then they might have to stop for a
moment and think about it, and you're going to get a
much more interesting response.

10. 4. Go with the flow
That means thoughts will come into your mind and
you need to let them go out of your mind.

11. 4. Go with the flow
That means thoughts will come into your mind and
you need to let them go out of your mind.

12. 5. If you don't know, say that you
don't know
Be more careful about what you claim to be an expert
in and what you claim to know for sure

13. 6. Don’t equate your experiences
with theirs
If they're talking about having lost a family member,
don't start talking about the time you lost a family
member

14. 7. Try not to repeat yourself
Don’t keep rephrasing it over and over

15. 8. Stay out of the weeds
People don't care about the years, the names, the
dates, all those details that you're struggling to come
up with in your mind

16. 9. This is not the last one, but it is
the most important one
Buddha said, and I'm paraphrasing, "If your mouth is
open, you're not learning."

17. 10. Be brief
A good conversation is like a miniskirt; short enough
to retain interest, but long enough to cover the
subject

18. To conclude,
Go out, talk to people, listen to people, and, most
importantly, be prepared to be amazed
Thank You 

19. https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better
_conversation#t-354387

20. These slides are created by Shubhanka Malpani, IIM
Lucknow, as part of an MBA course, Personal Branding
(www.MBAskills.in), taught by Prof. Sameer Mathur.
Prof. Sameer Mathur
IIM Lucknow, Marketing Professor, 2013-Present
McGill University, Marketing Professor, 2009-13
Carnegie Mellon, Ph.D. and M.S. Marketing, 2003-09
Salonee Chitlangia
IIM Lucknow, PGDM, 2014-16