Engage without asking questions

- In one of my favorite radio shows, the host got me talking about things I've never talked about before. His secret? He didn't ask a single question. What if the best way to get people talking is to refrain from asking questions? You can have conversations as engaging and enlightening as my radio host by doing these four things. One, make a decision to put someone else at the center of your conversation. To do that, you have to put yourself and your own interest on hold for a moment. Two, take mental notes of your conversation partner's silent signals. Where do they focus? Does their body language tell you something their words don't? Three, share your observations and reflections on your shared situation. A priest once told me that he never asked questions when visiting people who had lost a loved one. Instead, he commented on the flowers in the garden, the pictures on the wall, and whatever else caught his eye while he waited for the person to start sharing what made sense for them…