Communication is one of the most important skills you can have in life. It is a skill we use every day, but sometimes it can be challenging. There are many situations where talking can quickly become awkward and difficult.

To help, here is a list of 10 ways to help improve your discussion skills!

1. Do not multitask! Try your best to be present in the conversation.
2. Do not lecture and force your opinion! It is not a conversation if you are the only one allowed to share their point of view.
3. Use open-ended questions! Start conversations with who, what, why, where, when, or how. Doing so will allow your recipient to respond with more than a yes or no. It will warrant a more thought-provoking response.
4. Go with the flow! Try to let the conversation unfold naturally. If someone brings something up, go along with it.
5. If you do not know, say you do not know! People respect genuineness. By saying you do not know you are not pretending to be someone you are not, and it gives you a chance to learn something new.
6. Your experience is not theirs! Every experience is unique and individual. Try not to act like their the same. You can compare, but remember what happened to you happened to you, not them.
7. Try not to repeat yourself! It is difficult to do but can lead to very boring conversations.
8. Do not worry about the details! Details can be important, but specific names and dates are not necessary for most stories/conversations.
9. Be brief! 
10. LISTEN! If your mouth is open, you’re not listening. Listening will show you care and make for an impactful talk with anyone.

Next conversation, keep these skills in mind, and watch how much better the discussion goes! Everyone has something to share, but it is up to you to listen to them. Remember, conversations give us wonderful opportunities to learn about others!