Nothing Beats a Real Conversation

“It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much.” ~Yogi Berra

At first, this quote makes me chuckle.  Mostly because I can totally relate to it.  I’ve been in circumstances where there is so much talking going on, and yet, very little conversation or actual engagement is happening.  I have a sense that as a society, we’ve gotten too busy for real conversation.  Everything seems to skim the surface.  Life is moving at such a fast pace that, even when you’re longing to know the answer to a question, your brain is only half-listening.  And so you miss the opportunity to really be with somebody else and converse.

Unfortunately, with so much talking going on, you might well feel that you’ve had a conversation or two.  What’s the difference between mere talking and a real conversation?  Well, I used the word earlier; it’s about engagement.  When you have an actual conversation, you engage with another person or people.  Your present to their experience, and to their description of said experience that goes beyond the words.  You’re both present energetically, and you make time to be present.  Conversation allows for genuine connection.  And this sort of connection is vital the human experience.

When was the last time you had a real conversation?  Not just a series of questions and answers, but a meaningful, heart-felt, totally present, conversation.  I’d almost be willing to bet that it’s been longer than you think.  And so, I want to challenge you to have at least one REAL conversation a day for the next week.  This might seem like a low-ball challenge.  And yet, if I’m right about my belief that so few real conversation actually happens, this challenge might stretch you more than you realize.  And the payoff?  Genuine connection.  Which allows you to have richer experiences.  Which allows you to be a more powerful and empowered person.  Which leads to great leadership.  Which leads to the creation of more opportunities to connect.  Which leads to more conversation.  You see how this is going.  Have fun!  Here’s to immersing yourself in conversation.