7 Steps to More Productive Conversations

An easy process for efficient, effective discussions

Tired of conversations that take too long, don’t have a purpose, feel unproductive? Here are seven steps to having discussions “like a boss!”.

One: Establish a human connection.

People are more likely to open up to what really matters when they trust that you care. But you really have to mean it! Instead of asking “How are you?”, bring to mind the last time you met and ask about that.

Example: “Last time we spoke you had to rush your dog to the vet. How’s she doing?”

Two: Be explicit about the goal — and the outcomes.

Conversations can derail in a nanosecond unless you explicitly state what you both want to get out of them.

Example: “What’s on your mind and how can I help?” Or “Here’s what I’d like to discuss today, and what I’d like us to walk away with.”

Three: Establish context.

To ensure you’re aligned on what you’re actually talking about, it’s important to create what the folks at VitalSmarts call “a pool of shared meaning.”

Example: “Give me some backstory on this.” And “Here’s what I believe has been going on.”

Four: Set the agenda.

Without some guardrails, conversations can easily get off track. Take a few seconds to outline the best path to a successful outcome.

Example: “Since we’re trying to get to [the outcomes], it seems to me we should be covering [x, y, z]. Your thoughts?”

Five: Process the issues.

Now that you have a clear picture of goals, outcomes, context and an ad-hoc agenda, you’re primed for a successful conversation!

Example: “So let’s start with… [discuss the agenda items]”

Six: Review and discuss next steps.

To ensure your conversation has a lasting impact, briefly review the outcomes and touch on your commitments to move forward.

Example: “Now that we’ve both figured out [x, y, z], let’s get back together on [date] and…”

Seven: Close with grace.

Just like you started, make things personal. Remind yourselves that conversations are a human endeavor, and that you care about the effort you just shared.

Example: “Thanks for taking the time. I really appreciate that you…”

You’ve got this!

All it takes is a little practice. Just take it one step at a time. Who knows, maybe after you learn to converse like a boss, you’ll actually become one!