Your communication skills, especially listening, are tested the most with family.

I’m in Indiana this week visiting relatives of my main squeeze–the perfect opportunity to practice what I preach.

Good communication requires listening and staying present and engaged in the dialogue.  Asking sincere questions is the best way to gentle nudge a conversation along.

To keep the conversation from sounding like an interrogation try repeating the last word or two spoken with a question mark on the end.  It invites more information in a gentle way.

For example, if Aunt Shirley’s last few words are . . .”Bob’s sister used to live in this area.”  You reply  “…in this area?”

This is enough for Aunt Shirley to expound. . .”yes, this area  was quite beautiful before the flood.  You…”the flood?”

Are you getting the gist? It’s quite simple and takes the angst out of trying to find something in common to talk about.

Try it. You might be surprised at how interesting YOU become when you haven’t spoken more than a few  words and phrases.