There’s no better way to pour out emotions, build relationships or immerse yourself in new points of view than by simply starting a conversation. But, whether you’re engaging with someone you already know or a stranger, it can be just as difficult to maneuver the discussion as it is fruitful. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to ensure a rewarding conversation without stress and anxiety. 

Sometimes it’s challenging to push a conversation beyond the surface, but discovering the ‘why’ behind a perspective can make it easier to relate to someone and find connections of your own. Propel the conversation further by discussing all sides or scenarios of a point. Especially if someone has a different viewpoint than you, it’s crucial to hear the value of all sides to open opportunities and create a shared value in the conversation. 

However, even with the frustration that sometimes comes with engaging with people who think differently than you, research shows that it’s all worth it. Decision-making platform Cloverpop found that teams that were diverse in age, geography and gender made better decisions 29% more often than all-male teams and 14% more than all-female teams.

Conversations involving people of different ages, geographies, histories and cultures all make for more well-rounded, beneficial experiences. Without having discussions with diverse groups, we limit ourselves to only what we know and feel. But not every conversation needs to be had in a group. 

Even though they often offer more rewarding conversations, groups aren’t always the best option for some conversations. Intimate one-on-one chats provide more comfort for those needing to pick a brain or share emotions, while groups function better for complex discussions. 

Conversations with others are complicated. Taming that complexity and learning how to design your conversation around empathy and interest will leave you with not only a new perspective but a rewarding experience.