Author(s): Judy Apps

Languages and Reference

Good conversation is at the heart of networking, meetings, interviews, negotiations and raising your profile. It can ease yourway in work, enabling you to build alliances, create strongrelationships with staff, bosses and clients, succeed atinterviews, motivate and inspire.

But conversation is something most of us were never taught Welearn to speak as babies, but how conversation actuallyworks is something most of us pick up only haphazardly, andmany have yet to learn. Why is it some of us are stuck for words, but others blabber or can't stop? What is it that some peoplehave naturally which enables them to converse comfortably andeasily, to engage people and build better relationships?

The Art of Conversation will show you step by step how toconverse skillfully and enjoyably with other people, at home, atwork, on the phone and in the street- even if you're dauntednow, discover the difference good conversation can make in everyaspect of your life. Learn to:

-Overcome the most common block to good conversation- fear; findout how to break the silence and keep the conversation going

- Understand the different types of conversation and how theywork- which topics and language are suitable for the occasion

- Learn simple methods for being heard and understood, includingspeaking clearly and audibly, listening well and using non-verbalcommunication

- Find out how to hold a conversation in tricky situations, including how to disagree, how to speak to those in authority andpeople you find difficult

-Use conversation to form relationships, improve friendships, makethe sale, chat people up, to learn, influence and persuade.