Words Have Power.

They impact the quality of our friendships, our ability to succeed, and our happiness. Yet, we are often unaware of how deeply words impact our lives.

Have you ever noticed how some people bring you alive during a conversation, while others leave you feeling drained and depleted?

What are the ingredients of an intriguing conversation? How do we elevate people with our words?

7 Tips to Positively Impact Your Conversations:

1. Relax & Listen

First, calm down, relax, and don’t worry about whether you have something interesting to say. It’s hard to have a pleasant conversation when you’re busy trying to look good, sound smart, or be likable. Instead, practice leaning back, listening, and following the natural flow of the conversation. Pay attention to your timing. Notice that some people enjoy talking more than others. Pause between sentences and be mindful not to overpower others with your words.

2. Be Interested

Be genuinely interested in others. Find out who they are and what they want to express. You don’t have to interrogate people to get to know them. Sometimes being quiet is more powerful. Everyone is brilliant. By giving others your undivided attention, you naturally bring out their best.

3. Be Honest

Be authentic. Don’t exaggerate, embellish, or pretend to be smarter, richer, or more accomplished than you are. Be real. People can sense inauthenticity from a mile away. And even if you manage to fool a few, pretending to be someone you’re not will only leave you feeling deflated.

4. Yield

Yielding is a subtle, yet powerful skill. It’s the art of making others right by accepting their point of view. This doesn’t mean you have to agree; it simply means you accept what they’re expressing. Yielding removes the argument from a conversation. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for example, was known for this approach—she often got her way by making others feel right.

5. Acknowledge

Acknowledgment is another powerful communication tool. Not only do you make people right when you acknowledge them, you also express what’s great about them. Acknowledgment is saying what works without making things up or being superficial. You honestly acknowledge what someone says or does. For example, “this is a valuable point,” or “the way you explain this issue makes it very easy to understand,” are are simple acknowledgments that create ease and harmony. People love to be recognized and when you acknowledge them authentically, you uplift the entire conversation.

6. Serve

Be engaged and offer support when talking to others. How can you contribute? If every conversation is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, what could you offer? Maybe you read a book they might enjoy, know someone they should meet, or have a thoughtful insight. Mention it. Be of service. Small acts of kindness often add surprising joy to another person’s day.

7. Don’t Have the Final Word

When wrapping up a conversation, let the other person have the final word. Express how much you enjoyed talking to them and give them space to reciprocate. This simple gesture of generosity leaves others feeling valued and appreciated.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: do you stay positive when talking to others – or do you sometimes get pulled into negative rants? What’s your secret to keeping interactions uplifting? Share your thoughts in the comments below or write to me.

As always, thank you for reading.

Karin