• Do you want to avoid conversational pitfalls?
• Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you said, but how you said it?” 
• Are you ready to stop putting your foot in your mouth?

If so, you are in the right place!
Florine Mark, Wellness Influencer and Author invited me to be a guest on her podcast, “Today’s Takeaway with Florine Mark.” 

We had an engaging, powerful, and fun conversation. This article contains some of the highlights of the podcast. You will find the link at the end of this article.

Sometimes having a conversation with another person can be a potentially explosive situation filled with dangerous mixed messages. Judging by the expression on the other person’s face, it’s obvious that he or she completely misinterpreted your message. 

Despite our best intentions, what we mean to say gets “lost in translation” traveling from our brain to our mouth. When we say, “Wow! You look wonderful for a woman your age!” instead of hearing the genuine compliment in our words, all she hears is “a woman your age.” It’s a stinging reminder of her age and that she looks good only in comparison to “older” women. Ouch! 

Being aware of the potential pitfalls in how we communicate could help us avoid these conflicts in the future. Are you ready to hear how to avoid conversational pitfalls and give you some tips on how to avoid them?

 What You’ll Hear in This Episode on Avoid Conversational Pitfalls:

• Why do we often stick our foot in our mouth when we talk to others? 
• What is an example of “the gap” in conversation, and how can it save us from embarrassing ourselves or hurting someone else’s feelings? 
• What are curiosity questions? 
• How can we help others feel more included at a social event or when introducing them to others? 
• How can we learn to communicate with other individuals who don’t share our political or philosophical beliefs but still insist on debating or lecturing us?
• What is a good way to communicate with people who have an illness but still want to have a great conversation with them? 
• What is a conversation bully? 
• How to get away when someone keeps monopolizing the conversation? 
• How can we make conversations feel safe for others, where they feel less judged? 

The Following are my Quotes Used in the Avoid Conversational Pitfalls Podcast:

• “The gap is the space in between for us to think, hmm, how can I say this without putting my foot in the mouth? That gap is truly our friend. And many times we just don’t use it.”
• “It’s more important for people to feel heard than what we say.” 
• “People really need to pay attention to the fact that it’s more important for them to feel heard than for what we say.” 
• “Listen and ask those curiosity questions. We have to stop thinking about what we want to say in the conversation.” 
• “A safe conversation is when other people feel heard, and they feel comfortable speaking their voice.” — Joyce
• “Stop taking everything so personally and telling yourself the wrong story.” 

 Florine Mark’s Ideas on Today’s Takeaway

“Certain people are gifted with the ability to speak with others in a way that draws people to them. These individuals can walk into a room, and soon, even complete strangers feel comfortable in their presence. People genuinely enjoy speaking with them and feel an immediate sense of connection. 

But not everyone has that skill. The good news is that with practice, we can all learn to become better communicators. We can take advantage of the fact that we were born with two ears and one mouth. Since our ears rarely get us into trouble and our mouth often does, sometimes the safest route is to listen more and speak less. By becoming better listeners, we become better communicators. 

Remember that every day is a gift and the gift we get from learning to hold our tongue and speak to others without alienating them is a gift that will draw others to us and make our relationships with others infinitely richer.”

 Here’s the Link to Today’s Takeaway with Florine Mark

https://888-3-florine.libsyn.com/avoiding-conversational-pitfalls

Who is Joyce Weiss?

Joyce is the Queen of Conflict Resolution and works with Department Managers and Leaders, Growth-Minded Individuals, and Small Groups tired of feeling invisible or overlooked and ready to confidently use their voice – without losing their cool. The result is their input and contribution are recognized and respected. And their expertise is in constant demand. 

Here’s A TREAT FOR YOU

Are you ready for the next level of support from me? Send an email to Joyce@Joyceweiss.com and put “I’m ready” in the subject line. I will send you my online calendar to schedule a call.

What will you get from the call?

Get extreme clarity on one of your current challenges
Understand what is necessary to get you from where you are to where you want to be.
Create an action plan, so you know what your next steps are

THIS IS NOT A SALES CALL! 🙂

Until Next Time, Be Well and Happy!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Communication Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Please share this post on your social media. As a result, other growth-minded people can reduce their high drama and inner stress.
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Thanks for reading, and remember – You Get What You Tolerate!