What is the art of conversation?

The term “art” is used to designate a set of techniques enabling perfect mastery of a discipline. The particularly subtle art of conversation is a real asset in the professional world.

By mastering the art of conversation, you can hope not only to build your reputation, but also to forge solid links and enrich your professional image.

Would you like to master the art of conversation and be able to talk to anyone in 2024? Here are a few tips to improve your conversational skills and gain self-confidence!

What skills do you need to develop to master the art of conversation and succeed in talking to anyone?

There are many ways to master the art of conversation. These include behaviors (listening to others, respect, humility), as well as engaging gestures (smiles, handshakes, eye contact).

Here’s a closer look at the tips you need to put in place for a successful conversation!

Practice active listening

Listening is the key to a successful conversation. In fact, a prospect will be particularly sensitive to the fact that you’re lending him an attentive ear and a definite interest. To capture their attention and make your conversation rewarding, you need to reassure them that you’re listening attentively.

You can do this, for example, by asking him pertinent questions, bouncing off an idea he’s just developed, or rephrasing his ideas to make them your own.

Preparing your speech

To master the subtle art of conversation, it’s important to know how to prepare your speech. Getting to know the person you’re talking to is essential, not only to avoid awkward situations, but also to guide your conversation.

To make your interview with your prospect a success, we advise you to implement a few tips such as :

• Find out more about the person you’re talking to (what’s their business sector? What are their interests? …)
• List a few topics of conversation (current events, sports, if you know he’s interested in them, for example…).

This method will also help you feel more confident and make your exchanges flow more smoothly.

Taking an interest in the other person

To capture your prospect’s attention and maintain a rewarding conversation, you need to take an interest in him or her! To do this, we recommend that you ask the other person questions.

Give preference to open-ended questions, which will force your prospect to open up and/or explain an idea: ” What did you think of this product? ” is a more pertinent question than ” Did you like this product? “, for example. The former invites direct debate and interaction, while the latter implies a short “yes” or “no” answer.

We also advise you to talk about your product/service in a roundabout way, so that the prospect feels concerned by it.

Here’s an example:

Prefer the formula: ” Can you tell me a little more about your expectations? ” to ” Do you think my product/service might be right for you? ”

This more subtle approach will give your prospect more confidence, because it will give him the feeling that you’re interested in his feelings, not in selling your product/service.

Use body language

Body language is a fundamental asset for successful communication! Your body language says a lot about you! Subconsciously, adopting a certain posture can tell your interlocutor a lot about your personality, and therefore encourage (or discourage) exchanges!

Here’s an example:

You’re a salesperson looking to sell a product to your prospect. During your first exchange, you adopt these behaviors: you fidget with your hands, keep looking at your watch, pull in your shoulders or run your hand through your hair…

It may seem harmless, but theimage you’re sending back to your prospect is clear: you seem uncomfortable. If your prospect feels uncomfortable with you, imagine how they’ll feel: they won’t feel confident with you, and worse, they probably won’t trust your product/service.

To make your exchange a success, we therefore advise you to pay particular attention to your body language:

• Adopt an open posture (straight back, eye contact)
• Smile
• Use friendly gestures (handshakes, engaging attitude)

Also pay attention to your prospect‘s body language, so you can adjust your approach accordingly. If your contact seems shy, for example, avoid overly familiar gestures (e.g. disregarding a distance bubble), which may be perceived as aggression.

Similarly, avoid closed gestures (crossing your arms, for example), which can be perceived as a lack of interest or a feeling of superiority.

Show humility

Humility is a valuable quality, particularly appreciated in the business world. Do you want to interest your prospect and convince him or her that your products/services are relevant? That’s a good thing, but make sure you’re humble and don’t oversell yourself.

Prospects generally appreciate the opportunity to assess for themselves whether a particular product/service is worthwhile, so chances are they’ll be slightly annoyed by an over-confident salesperson.

To make your conversation a success, we advise you to strike a balance. You don’t want to appear intimidated, but you also don’t want to appear overconfident! If you boast too much about your qualities (or those of your product/service), you run the risk of sounding pretentious, which could do you a disservice.

Be respectful and courteous

In the professional sphere, it’s imperative to always show respect for your interlocutor. Even if you don’t share the same ideas, or if your prospect doesn’t seem particularly receptive to your way of seeing things, it’s vital to avoid aggressive and inflammatory behavior as much as possible.

On the contrary, be open-minded and give priority to calm, constructive exchanges. Even if your prospect understands that you’re not on the same wavelength, he’ll appreciate your ability to demonstrate diplomacy and courtesy.

Successfully talking to anyone is a subtle art, requiring the implementation of certain best practices. Empathy, courtesy and humility are the keys to putting any prospect at ease and maintaining a rewarding conversation. By mastering the subtle art of conversation, you’ll succeed in improving your social relations and creating new opportunities!