Yesterday I was watching CBS Sunday Morning. One of the segments was on conversation – something this world of technology has helped us lose. Sure there is a lot of “talk” – emails, SMS’s, blogs, countless mobile calls, social networking tools.
Words flow between all of us, but are we really communicating — are we having conversations — something where we are engaged, listening, actively participating with someone else? Having a conversation — authentic communication requires a lot of each party. Each person has to commit themselves to the other, at least for a few moments in time. A conversation requires us to engage, to listen, to be involved emotionally. We are forced to connect at a human level.
One of the greatest resources on the art of conversations is a book, Fierce Conversations, Achieving Success At Work And Life, Once Conversation At A Time, by Susan Scott. It is an important book, critical for anyone interested in genuine conversations rather than words flowing back and forth.
Having conversations is tough, but imagine what you can learn.
Leave a Reply