read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. If a line is correct put a tick. Use letter "V"…

Read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. If a line is correct put a tick. Use letter "V" as a tick. If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word in a given space. But it would be far nice to take my conversational skills a little bit higher. Any tips? Quite a lot of people aren’t as skilled at conversation as they think, so you are not alone. What’s great is that you are curious and asking the question. Some people are being stuck on transmit (“rambling”) and think talking about themselves is good chat. Some think interrogating the other person is the way to go. But conversation is the turning together of two people. A lot of people mistake talking for conversation. 7. I wouldn’t necessarily always blame yourself either; a fruitful conversation does it require input from two people, not just one left doing the heavy lifting. 8. I went to psychotherapist and skilled conversationalist Chris Mills with whom I did a podcast on the art of listening which is a great bedrock of conversation. 9. Mills pondered on at “the difference between small talk and delivering factual information. The fundamental for a conversation to be successful is that it has to make emotional contact and a list of facts (“croissant and coffee”) on their own won’t do that. It has to have emotional zing.” 10. So to layer on what you already do you could add, “the croissants look great – do you make them here?” or “this coffee hits the spot, what a blend is it?” 11. These things won’t trigger a massive conversation because baristas often have a queue to serve over, but they are stepping stones and good practice points. 12. We also have had to be realistic about how far some conversations, in certain settings, can go. I think it’s entirely realistic that after 60 seconds someone will call time on talking about a camera. Even the most skilled conversationalist would struggle. 13. That said by some people need fewer triggers. Some spill more slowly. Being interested and curious – which you clearly are – is a great springboard for conversation; we are after all hard-wired for connection. 14. “To have a conversation you have to be able to imagine how what you’re saying is going to land with the other person. And that takes after empathy,” says Mills. Observation is also a great tool for conversation: just hearing what others talk about. There’s a reason talking about the weather is a stalwart in so many countries. It’s a connection, it’s non-committal, it’s not too personal and you can test the water with the other person. 15. But like I am said, you have to be realistic. Some conversations will never go beyond a few exchanges. Listen carefully to what people are saying and instead of facts maybe think about feelings. So if someone says, “We’re going on holiday to X” try something like “have you ever been before? Are you excited about going?” Good luck!