Listening
The Pause Between Hearing and Replying
The pause between hearing and replying helps you separate a speaker’s point from your first reaction, so your answer…
The full exchange
All pieces
Explore pieces on listening, questions, turn-taking, disagreement and group talk. Each starts with a particular conversational choice and turns it over from more than one side.
Questions
Broad Questions and Narrow Questions at the Same Table
Broad questions and narrow questions can open a conversation or focus it. Learn how to choose a prompt that gives the…
Group Talk
How to Make a Public Forum Work for the People in the Room
Learn how to shape a public forum around its purpose, audience and access needs, so people can understand the…
Disagreement
The Perfect Comeback Is a Conversation Myth
The perfect comeback is a conversation myth. Learn how to challenge a sharp remark without trading insults, and keep…
Turn-Taking
A Roundtable for a Question with No Quick Answer
A roundtable for an open-ended question helps a small group explore different views without forcing agreement, using a…
Our point of view
Conversation is something we make together
A useful exchange is rarely a perfect performance. It is a series of small choices: listening, asking, clarifying and making space for a reply.