w,w,w,w,w,h social networks

This area explores the who, what, when, where, why, and how of social networks.

who are the people in your life?

what purpose do the people you know serve in the grand scheme of your life?

when should you contact who?

where do you keep all the information about all the people you know, meet, and/or want to meet?

Why is it important to think about social networks?

How can you make the most of your social networks?

17 tips to ensure great conversation

Think back to the last time you had a really great conversation. Who were you talking with? What were you talking about?

Was it the person or the topic that made the conversation interesting? Most likely, it was a combination of both mixed with many other elements. 

• Make sure you are ready to engage in the dialogue or don't participate. You don't want to be the boring one.
• Use an exit strategy. Do you often find yourself in mind numbing chatter? Plan ahead, have a few "gotta go" lines ready.
• Listen to the other participants - really listen. Are they trying to have a dialogue or reciting a monologue?
  
• Test for understanding by paraphrasing. It'll give you time to think and ensure you're responding to what's been said.
• Insert a novel idea into the discourse - especially if you're having the same conversation repeatedly. Stop the madness.
• Practice being nonjudgemental. It'll help you "hear" better. You'll also hear more and grow emotionally.
  
• Utilize the law of two feet. If you're not contributing and enjoying fully then walk away.
  
• Really be open and honest. If you don't trust the people you're with enough to be truthful why are you talking with them?
  
• Play devil's advocate if things start to get static. Conversations should enliven your thinking.
  
• Open you stance. Watch your body language. Relax your arms, shoulders, and neck. You'll automatically feel better.
  
• Select a topic you'd like to understand better and start conversations with people about it.
  
• Escape into a good read a couple of times a week. You need to constantly add to your thinking to remain relevant.
  
• What kind of conversations have you been having? Do you know? Analyze the next 5 or 10. What did you learn?
  
• Organize the info you've gathered from paying attention to your conversations. Use it to make your next ones great.
• Manage your emotions. Passionate is good - being enraged or coming off as explosive is not. Practice control.
  
• Avoid common conversation mistakes like being distracted or talking with a person who is distracted. Let them go.
  
• Notice when it's time to move on. And make it happen.
  

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