#conversation-skills

#conversation-skills

Last month, I found myself at a friend's dinner table, surrounded by strangers. What started as polite small talk about the weather quickly evolved into a fascinating discussion about urban development, the role of art in society, and how different countries approach healthcare. Three hours flew by. Walking home that night, I realized something. The people who seemed most at ease weren't necessarily the ones with the most degrees or the fanciest job titles.

We tend to overestimate how uncomfortable small talk will be and underestimate how enjoyable it will be. We let our worst fears win out. Do people sometimes reject our bids to chat? For sure. But most of the time, we have more in common than we expected. Pushing yourself to talk with others can be a kind of exposure therapy. If done correctly, you'll be rewarded for initiating conversations by having a good time conversing. The more good conversations you have, the more likely you'll be to have more conversations.