I consider good conversation to be a real contender for life’s greatest pleasure. Unfortunately, the art of carrying on a great conversation isn’t something that comes naturally to many of us.
Despite this, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy some great conversation partners over the past decade. This is mostly because I’m drawn to good conversationalists and try to squeeze myself into their worlds. And over time, I’ve grown a lot by trying to emulate and learn from their ways—and figure out what works for me personally.
In some social situations, I still occasionally feel like a fish out of water. I find it hard, for example, when I’m the outsider among a more established group of friends. But in most small group settings, I consider myself an above-average conversationalist, or at the very least, someone who cares about the craft a little more than others….