Sometimes I wonder about “geeking out” over enabling conversation. My passion has to do with compassion, our ability, regardless of circumstances, to deeply connect with others. Compassion is beautiful to witness and at the recent TEDxMileHigh Conversation Café` great empathy was present!
It wasn’t that The Conversation Café was a “cry fest”. The empathy I experienced occurred because attendees treated one another by simply, gracefully reciprocating. At The Conversation Café, strangers and friend-groups imagined what it was like be in someone else’s shoes. Guests shared ideas, felt heard, and then encouraged participation of their cohorts, interacting with someone else’s thoughts. Two, three, even four-way listening bolstered everyone’s experience in thoughtful chatting circles.
The larger the group, the more deliberate the listening process must be. Otherwise not everyone will have a chance to feel heard, especially if time is short. Sometimes we might not get a turn to share in a large group or not. Remember that we’ll benefit just as much through listening to another’s stories, providing companionship on life’s journey.
Business meetings harbor a reputation for the “same old, same old” chicken dinner dull keynote speaker too impersonal beige venue experience; not true when we propagate a genuine “give and take” in our interactions. Although a meeting’s content is important and might even offer inspiration, we’ll most remember the thoughtful conversations we have with other attendees.
Here are suggestions for how to offer compassionate reciprocation:
- Welcome someone new. Many participants attend a conference by themselves, which means they must bravely walk into venues not knowing a single sole. That’s scary for most of us. Be first to reach out a hand and make an introduction.
- Mingle with whomever is right nearby, even if that someone looks different than you. We’re not all the same and therein exists the gold. Catch yourself making normal assumptions. A conference is a wonderful communal springboard for exploring new and different perspectives through conversation. No maneuvering necessary.
- Smile. When we smile, we lift other people’s spirits in addition to our own.
- Take turns listening. Listening is an act of compassion. When we deeply engage we’re telling someone that they’re valued and that we care about what they have to say.
- Be compassionate with yourself . Then you’ll better be able to help another.
Augmenting the conversational experience means showing compassion for others, reciprocating and, in the end, making the world a kinder place.
