Chapter 9. How to be Brilliant in Conversation and Barely Say a Word
Carnegie was Right
In a nutshell, the people we find most fascinating are those who are interested in us. The best way to make people interested in YOU is to be interested in THEM. Paradoxically, the people we regard as the most gifted conversationalists are the people who mostly listen while we talk. Gifted conversationalists use conversation to make the other person feel important and valued, not to demonstrate their own knowledge of something. Those whom we regard as the most gifted conversationalists are not the people with the most knowledge to impart, but the ones who seek knowledge from our own storehouse of facts and experiences.
A Profound Paradox
Being regarded as a brilliant conversationalist begins with being a gifted listener. People who master these skills are some of the most sought-after people in the world.