"How to talk to anyone: the experts' guide" Summary

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/28/how-to-talk-to-anyone-the-experts-guide


How to talk to children and teenagers, by family therapist Karen Holford:

Children often don't have the words to say how they're feeling and don't always understand what you mean when you ask them something. The key thing is to pay attention to what they are saying. If there is a difficult topic to talk about then break it down in to chunks and put it in simple terms. 

Tips
Use visual exercises with younger children to help them explain what’s going on.
Respect the importance of what they’re talking about; avoid saying, “It’s just a silly worry.”
Model good ways of communicating with other adults. Let children see you argue and make up.

How to talk to strangers, by Susan Roane:

Tips
Ask people how they know the host, or how they got there, or what they think of the food (just about everyone likes talking about food).
Watch out for conversation-killers, especially one-upmanship. If someone says they just lost 10lb, don’t tell them how you lost 20.
Borrow stories. If you don’t have children but you’re talking to a new parent, can you share an anecdote that a friend has told you?

How to talk to your doctor, by Dr Ayan Panja:

Tips
Start with the thing you’re most worried about. Don’t make your doctor guess.
Be as detailed and descriptive as you can when explaining your symptoms.
Have an awareness that you’re talking to a human. We try to leave the emotions of the last appointment behind us, but it’s not always easy.

How to talk to your date, by Dan Williams and Madeleine Mason:

Tips
Pay attention to the negative information your date shares with you. It could be a sign that they’re not ready for a relationship.
Try not to focus on “Does this person like me?”; instead, ask yourself, “Do I like them?”
Think of your date as a team-building exercise: you’re both gathering information to work out whether you’ll fit well together.