Shh! I have a secret I want to share.

The world has gone digital, but that doesn’t mean one-on-one communication has gone by the wayside – on the contrary! 

With Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype, people communicate more than ever… and sometimes with a whole ‘room’ of people! 

Job interviews, meetings, dating, teaching – how can you stand out when it comes to the art of conversation? We have some tips…

When it comes to one-on-one, don’t ask close-ended questions that end in a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ That’s an excellent way for a conversation to fall flat. 

Instead, lead with a question that begins with one of the 5 W’s – who, what, where, when, why – and don’t forget how. 

Instead of asking ‘Do you like Italian food?’, ask, ‘What’s your favorite cuisine?’. 

Instead of ‘Do you like your job?’, ask, ‘What do you like about your job?’. 

Just tweaking your questions a bit can open up further conversation topics – a perfect tip for those of us who are a bit shy.

Another tip? Never lie.

If the conversation heads to a topic you’re not familiar with, be honest. You’ll seem more genuine when you admit what you don’t know vs what you do know. 

You’ll also want to avoid ‘one-upping’ – this is when someone makes a statement, and the other person interjects with their own experience. 

Everyone wants to feel valued in a conversation. While many situations aren’t unique, don’t one-up the coworker who told you they won a pie cook-off by talking about how your mother also has several prize-winning recipes and was even featured on TV with Gordon Ramsey (and it was the best mince pie he’d ever had!). 

Share the limelight!

The final tip is to be careful about the topics you bring up. Some people are touchy about things like politics, religion – and money. In short, know your audience. 

On the subject of financial planning, we are most definitely not touchy. After all, we live and breathe it in my office. 

Why not give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or reach out online and book a free 15-minute consultation? With our tips, you may have mastered the art of conversation – let us help you master the art of reaching your financial goals!