Ways to have a better conversation

 The Ted Talk - 10 ways to have a better conversation discusses 

The Ted Talk was well articulated and discusses the various topics that one must avoid that will lead to arguments in conversations. These topics can be highly sensitive that can influence the nature of the conversation. Topics such as politics, religion, current affairs and so forth can be conversation busters and create heated arguements.

The speaker moves on to discuss how conversation skills that help maintain coherent and confident conversations. A person must not focus on showing they are paying attention when you are actually paying attention. Be present in your conversations, don't be half in it and out of it, avoid thinking of something else while talking to someone.

Enter conversation to learn something new, and keep your personal opinion on the low. when you assume you have something to learn, you are a better listener and the person speaking tends to open up more. this also gives you an opportunity to learn something new.

Ask questions that help enhance the conversation and dive deeper. Further it is important to go with the flow, which means that various thoughts will come into your mind and it would be advised to let them go out of your mind.

Another key point that resonated with me was, don't try to equate your experience with the person talking. If they're talking about a personal experience, don't start talking about the time you you may have had a similar experience. All expereinces are individual and more importantly its not about you at that moment.

Lastly, LISTEN and pay attention to someone when they are talking and be interested, it shows respect, the intent to understand, and the ability to learn something new and not always be talking over the other person. Theres always more to learn, and be amazed by other peoples opinions, experience and perspectives.