When you catch yourself making a conversation mistake, remind yourself. ("Do I really make mistakes? Which ones?") Check this list: --Interrupting others. --Finishing people's sentences. --Frequently disagreeing with "Yes, but." --Poor listening. (Distracted, planning what to say) --Rambling on. --Competing. Grabbing attention with "Me, too." --Dominating. Talking over others. --Being unresponsive Do you recall the old trick to remember to do (or avoid) something? Tie a string around your finger. This "weed-pulling" method is similar but more effective. If you commit to eliminate a bad conversation habit, ("weed"), placing a rubber band around your wrist can help. First, it is a visual reminder that can cause you to hesitate. Second, it gives a stinging signal to your "habit unconscious" when you whack yourself on the wrist. The cost of this learning aid is nothing, but the pay-off is often remarkable. So I have found with clients who wanted to break a habit such as chewing their fingernails or finishing people's sentences. This is my "Rubber Band Remedy" for getting rid of "conversation weeds" Not fancy, but effective.

When you catch yourself making a conversation mistake, remind yourself.

("Do I really make mistakes? Which ones?") Check this list: --Interrupting others. --Finishing people's sentences. --Frequently disagreeing with "Yes, but." --Poor listening. (Distracted, planning what to say) --Rambling on. --Competing. Grabbing attention with "Me, too." --Dominating. Talking over others. --Being unresponsive Do you recall the old trick to remember to do (or avoid) something? Tie a string around your finger. This "weed-pulling" method is similar but more effective. If you commit to eliminate a bad conversation habit, ("weed"), placing a rubber band around your wrist can help. First, it is a visual reminder that can cause you to hesitate. Second, it gives a stinging signal to your "habit unconscious" when you whack yourself on the wrist. The cost of this learning aid is nothing, but the pay-off is often remarkable. So I have found with clients who wanted to break a habit such as chewing their fingernails or finishing people's sentences. This is my "Rubber Band Remedy" for getting rid of "conversation weeds" Not fancy, but effective.

("Do I really make mistakes? Which ones?")

Check this list:

--Interrupting others.

--Finishing people's sentences.

--Frequently disagreeing with "Yes, but."

--Poor listening. (Distracted, planning what to say)

--Rambling on.

--Competing. Grabbing attention with "Me, too."

--Dominating. Talking over others.

--Being unresponsive

Do you recall the old trick to remember to do (or avoid) something? Tie a string around your finger.

This "weed-pulling" method is similar but more effective.

If you commit to eliminate a bad conversation habit, ("weed"), placing a rubber band around your wrist can help. First, it is a visual reminder that can cause you to hesitate. Second, it gives a stinging signal to your "habit unconscious" when you whack yourself on the wrist.

The cost of this learning aid is nothing, but the pay-off is often remarkable. So I have found with clients who wanted to break a habit such as chewing their fingernails or finishing people's sentences.

This is my "Rubber Band Remedy" for getting rid of "conversation weeds" Not fancy, but effective.

Just above the header "Better Conversations Newsletter" at the top of this issue, you'll see a Facebook icon. Clicking on that will take you to your Facebook page. The link to this issue will also appear. You can add a comment and post it and your friends will be able to access this newsletter.

Loren Ekroth ©2012, all rights reserved

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