How to Be a Good Conversationalist in 3 Simple Steps

 by: Edward V Ellis, Sr

Want to learn how to be a good conversationalist? I know exactly what you’re talking about. You want to be that person who is easy to talk to, fun to be with and can hold his own in a conversation.

I'll show you exactly how to do that in this article. Don’t worry; the strategies to starting and maintaining good communication are not at all difficult. Read on to learn how to be a good conversationalist.

Step 1: Relax.

The worst communicators are those who try too hard. The best are those who are relaxed and comfortable with themselves.

You may get nervous when talking to strangers or to people you barely know; but trust me, relaxing will help you more than you realize.

For one, you won’t suffer from mental block. You’ll be able to contribute to the conversation freely and even come up with witty comebacks. And for another, a relaxed stance attracts people to you. Fidget every three seconds and even your friends will feel nervous.

To help you relax, imagine yourself talking comfortably with people and having a great time discussing interesting topics with them. Breathe in and out a few times to relieve tension before meeting them.

Step 2: When in Doubt, Ask Questions.

You don’t need to have an opinion all the time. If you can’t come up with anything interesting to say, ask the people you’re talking to something about them.

If you want to know how to be a good conversationalist, that is a good strategy to remember. At a party, you can easily start a conversation by asking people what they think of the music or the food. You can also ask them where they’re from or how they know the host or hostess.

This is a simple yet effective trick for everyone to remember. After all, people like to talk about themselves and their opinions.

Step 3: Speak Clearly.

If you want to learn how to be a good conversationalist, you need to speak clearly. You may not realize it, but some people may be having a hard time understanding what you’re saying.

Figure out if you're expressing yourself correctly or ask your friends about it. Do you have a thick accent? Do you stutter sometimes when you're talking to important people?

Make an effort to learn how to speak clearly. Practice reading books or texts aloud and pronounce the words as clearly as you can. Doing this will not only help others understand you better; it will also boost your self-esteem.

Learning how to be a good conversationalist is possible for anybody who’s serious about improving themselves. Aside from these tips, you can also look to a role model for inspiration. Find out what makes that person such a great communicator and apply what you’ve learned the next time you find yourself talking to others.