It’s time to talk about talking

Here’s some tips on how to get these conversations started…

Keep the conversation open

Start by choosing a good time and a comfortable space without distractions, you don’t want the conversation to feel rushed.

Encourage the other person to talk with open-ended questions that need more than a yes/no answer. Instead of asking ‘Are you feeling ok today?’ try ‘How are you feeling today?’

Follow up with prompts like ‘Tell me more!

Be present and listen

Put away your phone and give them your full attention. Top tip: If you’re meeting via a video call, turn off notifications to avoid distractions.

Focus on the other person and avoid talking about yourself.

Resist the urge to jump in to fill silence. If they’ve paused, they may not have finished speaking. Giving them time creates trust and allows the person speaking to relax into the conversation.

Take care of yourself

Showing up for others means showing up for yourself too!

If you don’t feel equipped to handle the conversation at that point in time, it’s ok to explain that you’re not in the position to talk right now but would like to arrange a better time.