Top 8 Qualities of a Good Conversationalist

Conversation is the art of never appearing a bore, of knowing how to say everything interestingly, to entertain with no matter what, to be charming with nothing at all.”

~Guy de Maupassant

Mastering the Art of Conversation

Conversation is an art. Some people are born as good conversationalists and they know how to tackle any kind of conversation. On the other hand, for some people participating in any kind of conversation is not an easy task. 

Who is an effective Conversationalist? 

What separates the conversationalists from the non- conversationalists? How is it so easy for the good conversationalists to break the ice in any kind of situation and let the conversation flow so smoothly? It all happens because people with good conversation skills understand the conversational needs of others. 

Conversationalists vs. Non – Conversationalists

Now, all this does not mean that people who are not confident while conversing with others cannot learn the fine art of conversation. The art of conversation is like any other art and can be learnt by anyone, but before making an attempt to learn this art we must first realize the importance of good conversational skills. 

Imagine any social gathering like a party where you tend to meet both friends and strangers. You might be very comfortable talking to your friends, but a real ice breaker is required when you have to start a conversation with strangers. Now, who would not wish to leave an everlasting impression on others by the means of their effective conversational skills?

                                                  Office Conversations

So, let’s take a deeper look into the Top 8 Qualities required for becoming an effective conversationalist:

1. Learn to talk on a broad range of subjects: A good conversationalist knows how to talk on a variety of topics ranging right from politics to fashion. This means that we should not limit the conversation to the topics of our interest. We should try to understand the interest of others in the group and should talk about what others want to listen to.

2. Be a good listener: Learn to listen to what others have to say. Nobody likes to talk to a person who is too occupied with his own thoughts on a topic and does not seem to be interested in what others have to say.

3. Learn how to tailor your topics to the interests of the people with whom you are speaking: Sometimes, you might not know much about a person with whom you are conversing. In this kind of situation, you should first try to find out the interests and hobbies of that person through some general conversation and then frame your topics of conversation around these interests.

4. Don’t interrupt someone in the middle of a conversation even if he has been dragging on interminably.

5. Refrain from correcting in public other person’s facts, grammar or pronunciation: Correcting somebody’s mistake in public is a conversation gaffe. It is against etiquette to correct someone’s mistake in front of others during a conversation. We have to understand that ‘to err is human’ and anyone can commit this kind of mistake.

6.Show interest in good news about colleagues and help spread that good news.

7. Accept compliments gracefully, rather than refuse them: If somebody says “You are looking good today” then, you should say “Thanks” in return, rather than saying:

“No, I think I have put on too much weight”. This portrays your personality in a negative way.

8. Know when to talk business when not to: You might be one of the most successful businessmen, but others might not be interested in talking about the ups and downs in the market. So, try not to restrict your conversation topics to the business world because it might not sound interesting to others in the group.

      Informal Conversations

To Sum It Up

Effective conversation helps you to make great relationships with the people you meet but, in the end, what counts the most is the confidence with which you carry yourself in any kind of gathering. So, create an excellent recipe for success by adding the power of good conversational skills to your high self-confidence.

Also Read:

 How to Acquire Good Communication Skills (dressyourimage.com)