How to be a great conversationalist

The other day I was sitting next to an eighty eight year old retired US Navy pilot. He started a political conversation and from the first sentence I could tell that the two of us were as far apart on the political spectrum as is possible and yet be in the main stream of US politics. So immediately I changed the subject.

Why would I waste our valuable time together on something that would bring possible friction between us (politics)? I genuinely was interested in this Second World War hero’s stories. So I asked him about his favorite planes that he flew. He enjoyed telling me about his various experiences in the war, and later on as a civilian pilot, and I enjoyed listening to him.

He also told me about the way Southern California was in the thirties when he was growing up. It was very fascinating. He told about the orange groves and motor racing on dirt tracks in Corona where four thousand people lived vs. one hundred and forty thousand today.

I was having a great time rather than arguing about stupid things like politics. The Captain’s wife of sixty six years added parts of the story about the various places they have lived in over the years as they moved around with his Navy missions.

The conversation turned around to other topics as well. After this gentleman had retired from the navy he had been a civilian pilot and later a school teacher. So there was lots of stories he had. I mostly listened and every now and then asked a question.

I was not counting but most of the speaking was done by my elder companion and most of the listening by me (and that’s the way to be a great conversationalist according to Dale Carnegie). Of course I was not consciously thinking of the book, "How to win friends and influence people," but I cannot recommend this book enough:

I’m writing an iphone/ipad self improvement app. I need you help:
Please email me with suggestions of features you would like to see in a self improvement app.

Neutralize your website’s carbon footprint today, SuperGreenHosting.com

Visit the Walker’s Warehouse Today!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.