Are you a gabber? Do you ask questions? Remember details? Smile? Look people in the eyes? Are you animated? If so, then you probably already know how to be a good conversationalist face-to-face. You’re also probably aware that all these things aren’t something you can just turn on or off. It’s in your programming.
Savvy communicators understand that “being on” is not something that’s only reserved for people they’re trying to impress. If they’re talking to someone, no matter who that person is, they give them their full attention. They treat their neighbor, the woman behind the counter at the grocery store, and the folks at the gym with the same level of respect and interest that they would show a CEO, clients and good friends.
One of the many upsides of this habit is that when you happen to meet someone who catches your interest, or a potential business partner, you don’t have to put on your ‘game face’. You’re already there, baby – switched on and ready to go.
And guess what? The same habit-building technique applies to texting.
Learn To Send Fabulous Text Messages Effortlessly
Good communicators make it a habit to avoid crappy messaging. Instead, they practice good, communicative texting habits, so when they meet someone interesting, they don’t stress about their texts and they don’t have to ask the entire neighborhood for advice before they start ripping off messages, they can relax and just ‘shoot the sh$t’. Well, guess what? You too can send cool, effortless messages naturally, if you also build good texting habits and follow these tips on how to be a good conversationalist via text and keep the text conversation going and going.
According to the experts, new habits take 30 days to form. So, if you want to become an even better communicator and fire off messages with ease, why don’t you take my 30 day text challenge?
How To Be A Good Conversationalist Via Text: 30 Day Challenge
Follow these 10 rules for the next 30 days, and you’ll be well on your way to building good texting habits and becoming a natural communicator who is always on:
1. Don’t send rants, passive aggressive, or snotty messages over texts.
If it’s easier to write than to say, you shouldn’t be writing it.
2. Eliminate zero-value added messages.
These include one word answers, such as ‘haha’ or ‘LOL’. If your text adds nothing to the world, don’t create it.
3. Find one new piece of interesting information every day, and include it in a message, in a suitable context.
Eg. ‘Its national ice-cream day today – have a sticky one!’
4. Do. Not. Drunk. Text.
No one has every sent a drunk text that turned out well. They are either valueless, or regrettable. If you’re a serial drunk texter, do everyone a favor and download an app that puts a stop to it.
5. Always say goodbye.
You wouldn’t walk off in the middle of a conversation without a farewell, would you? So don’t do it when you text! You don’t have to give a reason, or an ‘excuse’ to stop messaging, but you do need to signify that the communication is over (for now) so you don’t leave someone hanging on the other side.
6. Pull your weight.
Don’t participate in one-sided texting. If you’re into it, make sure your adding to it by asking at least one questions per message – the other person shouldn’t be responsible for everything. If you’re not into it, refer to rule 5.
7. Don’t text jerks.
If you’re in a bar and a guy is being an a-hole over the table, do you stick around to shoot the breeze? No. You let them know where to go, and make a graceful exit. Do the same if someone is disrespecting you via text. The more you engage with energy vampires the less energy you will have for the people that deserve it.
8. Be positive.
If you smile when you write your text, they’ll smile when they read it.”]
9. Know when to stop.
Don’t drag out a text convo if there’s no longer any value in it (see rule 2), and you can’t be bothered to add anything text worthy (rule 3). It’s a waste of your time and theirs’.
10. Treat everyone the same.
We all know there are some names that pop up on your screen that will cause more excitement than others, but don’t let it show. Have you ever been with someone and you both texted the same person, but they only replied to one of you? I have…. It’s awkward. Treating people equally is just good life practice that will always set you up for success.
Ready to start some healthy habits and get your communication in shape? All it takes is 30 days of following these rules on how to become a good conversationalist. If you do, they’ll become ingrained, taking you from an out-of-shape texter, to a communicator who is fit for any challenge – Good luck!
