Nothing is more helpful to me in preparing "Better Conversations" than to know what you readers are thinking about.

For example, what are your burning questions that I haven't answered? And, which is/are your favorite feature(s) in my long format newsletter (word-a-week, la triviata, pronounce-a-thon, conversation quotation, friendly grammarian)? Or anything else.

Please send questions or comments to me at loren@conversationmatters.com.

Great thanks!

Quality conversation requires time.

The primary causes for the decline of conversation are that television viewing and internet use gobble up the face time required to talk. (In the U. S., average adult TV viewing: 4 hours per day. Using the internet: 1 hour per day.)

If it's a problem that "we don't talk much anymore," what are the solutions?

1. Make time for talk. For example, during the evening meal, eliminate the distractions, including TV. Let your phones take messages. Then put the focus on talking and listening.

2. "Walk your talk" by taking time for a stroll and talk while also getting some exercise. Walking has the advantage of increasing your vital energy and lifting your spirits, and being surrounded by nature -- if you can walk in a park or a forest-- adds the benefit of serenity.

3. Try some conversation games, like decks of questions and topics for use by families, couples, and groups. In addition to sharing ideas, participants build their conversation skills. Check a bookstore or an online source like Amazon.com. There are many such.

4. Make time for telling personal stories. For example, have adults tell stories about when they were little kids, and listeners can ask follow-up questions like "Then what did you do?" and "What did you learn from that experience?"

The most important point here is to get an agreement to make time for from those involved. If that's difficult, start small, perhaps with one block of time per week during an outing or after dinner. (Usually, just being together with some uninterrupted time will stimulate a conversation.)

Until next week,

Loren

Loren Ekroth ©2011, all rights reserved

Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life.