Discussion Thread

  • 1.  Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 07-12-2021 09:10 AM
    Hello everyone!

    I wanted to start this discussion thread on different ways of having a better conversation. Some may easily be distracted or have a hard time focusing for longer period of times, and I think the TED talk below an be super useful. Watch this 11 min video and tell us, what technique number was your favorite and why?

    Hope you enjoy it!

    10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee
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    10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee
    Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.When your job hinges on ho...
    View this on YouTube >


    Regards,
    Salvador

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    Salvador Bentolila P.E., ENV SP, M.ASCE
    AECOM
    New York NY
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  • 2.  RE: Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 07-21-2021 08:58 AM
    Thanks Salvador! 

    I think my personal favorite techniques were "asking open-ended questions" and "saying you don't know when you don't know". I think they go hand in hand for asking and answering questions. I also liked "stay out of the weeds"  because I too have recognized when meeting someone new, there is value in getting your message or personality across to them rather than getting the exact details of a (non-technical) topic correct.

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    Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
    Civil Engineer
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 07-21-2021 01:26 PM
    Great picks, Chris! Saying you don't know when you don't know is super important in my opinion as it shows humbleness an honesty.

    Another one I've put into practice since watching the video is to avoid turning the conversation to be about you. Sometimes one can be tempted to switch the subject from him/her to oneself, and I think keeping the focus on the person you are talking to has a lot of value as a listener.

    Looking forward to everyone else's responses!

    Regards,
    Salvador

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    Salvador Bentolila P.E., ENV SP, M.ASCE
    AECOM
    New York NY
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 07-27-2021 09:44 AM
    This is great, one of my favorite is "be brief" and I like being direct to the point after a greet and its really works for me when I'm talking to other professionals so that I can easily convey what's important to say and that they can save their time too. And to "listen" first before I can add my own, and this save time because they got the same idea and lessen my effort too. And most of the time so that the conversation will helped as I "don't equate my experience with theirs" like I have to put myself in their shoes and learn things how they handled it and how I can apply their situations in my future struggles. But with this topic I wanted to asked how you will deal with people who is already bias in the first place? how to deal with people who can't or even try to understand you? And with this sometimes showing empathy and response with a help is more important than the structure of how good the conversation is.

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    Llala Chrishaye Ocampo S.M.ASCE
    Student
    City of General Trias Cavite
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 08-16-2021 09:23 AM
    This is one of my favorite videos. Like Chris, I like the #3: Ask open-ended questions to keep the conversation going and spark interesting discussion.​

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    Tung Nguyen, PhD
    Water Resources Engineer
    Sacramento, CA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Ways to have a better conversation

    Posted 10-28-2021 11:01 AM
    Great insight Tung.

    Consider making that open-ended question right after another tells you, or asks you for your feedback:

    "That's an interesting point. Can you tell me more?"

    Stay Healthy!

    Cheers,
    Bill

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    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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    Original Message


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