English Communication Skill:  Encourage Conversation- The Road to Rapport

Relationship is the heart of social and work life. Communication is the heart of relationship and rapport. What’s the cardinal characteristic that encourages others to feel comfortable and converse? Observation.

Look around and notice what surrounds another person– say a picture of an ocean setting– and start a conversation.  When stumbling on a topic of importance to the other person, pursue it and reveal something about the self.  Revelations. experiences, viewpoints, and desires give other persons something they can respond to. Conversation blossoms.

The best communicators listen and get to know others.  In the work place, that is how to get to know how to meet colleagues needs which is part of the give-and-take of organizations.

Go out of the way to make people feel comfortable.  The CEO of Child Readiness Foundation on holidays wears his tie with little children on it– eye-catching and fun.  People know he’s approachable and gives them something to talk about.

Women can invite conversation with fun, unusual pins, earrings, or bright scarf.  When we see someone with something unusual or fun, we know they are inviting conversation and it’s okay to comment.

Conversational T-shirts are ice-breakers  We wear our opinions, ideas, and commitments across our chests.  We get them as gifts or  as “part of the event.”  In either case, they give others something to talk about.  Get these wearable ice=breakers from art museums, music venues, amusement and national parks.

Coming out of two years of Covid pandemic, all the sweeter is the encouraging and making of conversation, especially when the techniques are so easy.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercises.