The Snowball Effect: Communication Techniques to Make You Unstoppable

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When you want to have good two-way conversations

Have you noticed how some people don’t have good conversations? Instead, they take turns to monologue:

Alice:	I had a good meeting today. Sally signed off my project.
Bob:	I did too. We had the most effective Board meeting we’ve ever had.
Alice:	I know what you mean. I was dreading asking Sally. You know what she’s like.
Bob:	I know. And our Board meetings always drag on.

At first glance, it looks like Alice and Bob are chatting. They’re not. They’re discussing totally different things.

When we chat, we should – as Dr Stephen Covey said “seek first to understand, then to be understood”. A better approach would be:

Alice:	I had a good meeting today. Sally signed off my project.
Bob:	Great – tell me what ...