When was the last time you had a really good conversation?

One of my clients invited Margaret Wheatley to present at an all day conference.  The focus was on using conversation to build relationships that produce positive results.

Conversations with the right people are powerful tools that produce favorable opportunities.  At a minimum we learn something. Wheatley provided many real life examples from people around the world who made a positive difference through conversation. Nobel Prize winners were some examples.

 

Conference attendees took away many valuable lessons and learned new approaches to address challenges at work, home and in the community.  At the end we shared what we learned.  I thought I would share some of my notes with you:

 

• To create a healthy environment, create more meaningful connections, listen.
• Engage in conversations that promote and strengthen relationships.
• Healthy environments focus on possibilities. Ask ‘what are the possibilities’ and ‘what can we do’ instead of ‘what is wrong and how do we fix it’.
• When there is a lack of cooperation or destructive tension invite others to participate and break the cycle, introduce new and creative thinking, bring in new voices and wisdom.
• Remember that 4/5 of our brain shuts down when overwhelmed with stress. Recognize that symptom in yourself and others to understand how to communicate and be heard.
• When things get tough we focus on tasks to avoid the situation. We just can’t cope so we slip to the comfort of a familiar routine.
• Good communication in a safe and accepting zone minimizes blame, denial and politics. The tone is one of genuine concern, respect, value and a positive can do attitude.

The key to great conversation is to speak to what matters to others.  To learn what matters to others, listen to what they say and what they talk about with others.

 

The conference made me wonder if conversation is an endangered art soon to be replaced by social media like Twitter, Facebook, etc.  I hope not. Engaging in meaningful and deep conversations fuels my soul.

Is conversation to Twitter like letter writing (on quality paper with a fantastic pen) to email or cooking to microwaving? What if social media is the new art of conversation?