338: Become the Person Everyone Wants to Talk To: The Science of Great Conversation

We spend our entire lives talking to other people, but no one ever teaches us how to actually be good at it. And according to today's guest, conversation isn’t something you’re either naturally good or bad at. It’s a skill you can learn. Dr. Alison Wood Brooks is a Harvard Business School professor, behavioral scientist, and author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves. After more than 15 years studying the science of conversation, she knows the tiny shifts that can make people feel more connected to you, help you navigate awkward or difficult interactions, and ultimately build better relationships. Alison break down what actually makes someone a great conversationalist and the common habits that may be preventing us from connecting as deeply as we want to, and why becoming a better conversationalist can impact so much more than your social life, from your career to your relationships to how fulfilled you feel.