Plan Your Conversation

I want to talk about having better conversations. Today I'm suggesting that you plan major conversations before you have them. 

Why? Because you need to know where you want to end up and structure the conversation to get you there. This seems elementary, but it is very important. If you wander around in different topics before getting to the meat of the conversation, your listener will be very confused.

Take a couple of minutes to plan the conversation and anticipate what the other person might say. I suggest you start with a question that is open-ended to get the ball rolling. The next step is to paraphrase back what you hear to clarify before heading forward. Following this pattern with each question should lead you closer to your destination, being careful not to trample on important values of the other party.

Knowing where you want to end up is helpful in getting you there. Both parties' lives will be enhanced by clearer communication.