Andrew Sykes’ Post

The Art of Awesome Conversations “I have not yet witnessed a spontaneous recovery from incompetence.” — Susan Scott While very few are truly incompetent at effective conversations, most of us fall into the category of being “good enough” or at least moderately average. We’ve navigated life and achieved some level of success with our current conversational abilities. But could we do better? I admit that I’m not there yet, and I’ve observed very few who consistently engage in truly “Awesome Conversations.” So, what does it take to elevate our dialogue? The Power of Conversations: Transforming Work, Relationships, and Lives Susan Scott’s wisdom resonates: “Our work, our relationships, and our lives succeed or fail one conversation at a time. While no single conversation is guaranteed to transform a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can. Speak and listen as if this is the most important conversation you will ever have with this person. It could be. Participate as if it matters. It does.” Acknowledgements Jonathan Biss Thanks for so much of your mentorship and thought leadership in this space. Let’s continue the journey toward awesome!

This quote truly resonates with me.😊 Meaningful connections and conversations have the power to transform our lives, both personally and professionally. The people we surround ourselves with can profoundly impact our growth and our perspective on the world. Think about those individuals who've enriched your life with their insights, their stories, and their wisdom. Let's keep fostering these priceless moments and continue to learn from each other. 💪🌟 #DeepConversations #MeaningfulConnections #PricelessEncounters"

Influence thrives on effective conversation. The concept crucial to profound conversations is "Conversational Hooks." These hooks enrich dialogues, allowing us to share more without revealing too much, and setting an engaging tone for the conversation. Equally vital is recognizing others' "emotional hooks" or "emotional bids." 👉 For those aiming for personal growth and increasing influence, self-awareness is foundational. If a conversation seems stagnant or too superficial, introspection is key: What are we missing? As we hone our listening skills, we discern cues indicating others' desire to connect, whether it's a lingering gaze or a heartfelt smile. Being too lost in our thoughts or overly focused on our gestures might cause us to overlook these signals, rendering the conversation ineffective. 👉 Most find it easiest to discuss themselves. Thus, to spur a lively chat, ask about their favorite subject: them. "How" and "why" questions can rekindle fading conversations, acting as a lifeline. Maintaining eye contact is essential. It not only captures attention but also provides insights into one's emotions. For instance, silent reactions to a question like, "What are you drinking?" can vary vastly, detectable primarily through eye contact. Body language is another crucial element. Standing side by side feels more natural than a direct face-to-face stance, which can be tense. Observing foot orientation can hint at one's comfort level in the discourse. We’ve used these principles (and way more) over the last 16+ years to put more than 10,000 people into the fast lane to become a person of influence in business and in life. Give it a try. 

‘Disagreeing doesn’t need to leave a great divide! 3 tips for having constructive conversations. 1. Start with the big picture Define a common goal to make sure you’re both headed in the right direction; 2. Try to understand other perspective Learn from their opinions and questions, and use them to further development your ideas; 3. Don’t expect to immediately agree Think of these conversations as a cimbling wall, not a cage fight. Focus on sharing ideas, listening, and moving forward not on winning an argument.’ - advice for talking to people you disagree with, from Julia Dhar -

To change the conversation, you have to 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩! “But, I’m not following a script,” you say. “I’m creating my own dialogue.  I’m deciding what to say when I talk.” Yes, you are. And, No, you aren’t. What you say in a particular moment is more influenced by things you’ve said, heard, thought and felt before in similar circumstances than by new thinking. Unless, you explore your underlying Thoughts Beliefs Emotions Identities Your relationship with the other person/people And  How you are showing up. You are more likely repeating the same conversation Just in slightly different ways. You’re not being  Heard Seen  Or  Understood The way you want and need to be. If you want your communication and leadership to have more impact, you need to 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩. If you want what you say to change people's behaviors and actions, you need to 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩. You need to find how to get the other person to hear you in a way that creates new possibilities inside the relationship dynamic. How do you do that? One step at a time. Here are three steps to get you started: Step 1. Check out my guide: How to Influence Others and Deepen Relationships for some new conversation moves. Step 2.  Check out the resources page of my website for the Guide: Preparing for Hard Conversations Step 3. In a short conversation, I can help you identify why the conversation is stuck and help you find a path forward. DM me a short message to start a chat.

What conversations test us?   You know, the ones that push our buttons.   Or ruffle our feathers.   Or try our patience.   The ones that require a response that is NOT automatic.    Because the automatic response may make things worse.    A lot worse.    We need to pass these tests if we want to be better in our most important conversations.    Which means we need to move from the automatic to the deliberate. Especially when it comes to building our confidence, clarity and control:   ▶ Confidence - because there are times when the important conversation is not the easy one.    ▶ Clarity - because navigating the personalities, problems and pressures is not always clear.     ▶ Control - because without a level of self-mastery, we won’t do what we need to do in the moment.    The good news? With practice, the intentional responses become second nature. The deliberate becomes the automatic. We crawl, we walk and then we dance. #influence #confidence #difficultconversations

Ever wonder how some people have a knack for meaningful conversations? It's not about charisma; it's about mastering essential skills. One such skill is the art of deep listening. This involves "looping for understanding" in conversations. Start by actively listening, repeating what you've heard in your own words, and then confirming your understanding. It’s a simple yet profound way to show you’re genuinely engaged, fostering a two-way street of attentive listening. For more tips on improving listening skills, check out this \#Insperity blog: https://lnkd.in/eUDiQQpb. \#Leadership \#Listening \#HRThatMakesADifference https://lnkd.in/ewdx8nUd

Ever wonder how some people have a knack for meaningful conversations? It's not about charisma; it's about mastering essential skills. One such skill is the art of deep listening. This involves "looping for understanding" in conversations. Start by actively listening, repeating what you've heard in your own words, and then confirming your understanding. It’s a simple yet profound way to show you’re genuinely engaged, fostering a two-way street of attentive listening. For more tips on improving listening skills, check out this \#Insperity blog: https://lnkd.in/g2iSEhGA. \#Leadership \#Listening \#HRThatMakesADifference https://lnkd.in/gjhE6kYe

I find myself engaging in conversations that, on the surface, seem ordinary but are deeply impactful. Consider this scenario: A successful career, ample time with loved ones, personal space for self-care - it all appears to be a blueprint of an ideal life, doesn't it? Yet, beneath the veneer of this 'perfect' existence, there's an elusive gap, a sensation of something amiss that's difficult to pinpoint. The dialogue usually unfolds like this: "Despite having everything, why don't I feel content?" she pondered, not understanding the heaviness that plagued her. Our conversation wasn't random; it was a quest for clarity. "Help me make sense of this feeling," she urged. "What if there's an action I'm supposed to take?" she speculated. This was our starting point for deeper exploration. From my experience, these discussions aren't unique. They are shared narratives of searching for meaning beyond the surface. Here’s how I approach it: 🔹 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Truly hearing what's said (and unsaid) to grasp the essence of the dilemma. 🔹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆: Using questions rather than answers to lead individuals to their own epiphanies. The beauty of these interactions is their transformative potential. A gentle nudge is often all it takes to illuminate the path forward. Does this resonate with you? Maybe it's time we scheduled a conversation.

Ever wonder how some people have a knack for meaningful conversations? It's not about charisma; it's about mastering essential skills. One such skill is the art of deep listening. This involves "looping for understanding" in conversations. Start by actively listening, repeating what you've heard in your own words, and then confirming your understanding. It’s a simple yet profound way to show you’re genuinely engaged, fostering a two-way street of attentive listening. For more tips on improving listening skills, check out this \#Insperity blog: https://lnkd.in/g_aatUZZ. \#Leadership \#Listening \#HRThatMakesADifference https://lnkd.in/gAEX-XaE