Speaking From Experience

What are the biggest issues we have when we speak with others? How would you answer this question? There are many mistakes we can make when communicating with one another. Whether or not the conversation is friendly and positive or requires courageous dialogue, we can say the wrong thing or say something the wrong way. However, most often the trouble is what we are not saying. That's right, it's the awkward silences we so often experience during conversations. Fortunately, there are a couple of strategies to help keep the conversation moving and focused on what is really going on.

Awkward silence in conversations should be completely avoided. These moments only create more tension and confusion for everybody involved and make the situation that much more uncomfortable. To overcome this we need to become more comfortable with silence. Often our conversations are so rushed that it is difficult to remember half of what was said. Slowing down the conversation and practicing short silences will help you become more comfortable if those awkward pauses pop up during a dialogue. Another strategy to deal with silence are those open ended questions I talk about so often...who, what, where, when, and why and how. If you are really at a loss for words, try this..."tell me more about...". There are free communication tools for that you are welcome to access on this blog site.

Take your time to make your point. Slow down your speech and practice being comfortable with short silences in conversations. Using these tools, plus the many free ones offered on this blog, will help you to have more focused and comfortable conversations.