3 Sanity-Saving Conversation Tips

Some interactions are not worth the time and energy. Here’s how to handle them.

’Tis the season for parties! Office parties, cocktail parties, family parties… And parties mean conversations. Lovely! Thankfully, there are so many conversation topics to choose from, especially after the last year and a half: politics and government, the economy, social injustice, religion, gun control, pandemic protocols … or you could talk about the weather (like climate change!). Add a really opinionated conversation partner with viewpoints diametrically opposed to your own and maybe a little alcohol… and what could possibly go wrong? Sounds delightful. ( I really wish someone would invent a sarcasm font.)

But here we are, folks. This is real life. Not everyone sees things the same way you do, for better or for worse, and somehow we all have to exist on the same planet. Or perhaps in the same conference room or dining room. Learning how to navigate challenging, awkward, or downright offensive conversations is a life skill — one you can master — that will provide you with more resilience, less stress, and greater fulfilment in life.

The primary way to do this is to listen fully and respectfully, speak authentically, and manage your emotions. You’ve heard it before: come from a place of , don’t interrupt, stay calm, acknowledge the other’s feelings and…