How to stay engaged in conversation, even if it’s boring

Have you heard of the acronym SLANT that many communication experts recommend?

It is specific to how you pay attention to someone. It stands for: S — sit up L — lean in A — ask questions N — nod your head T — track the speaker This approach lets the speaker know that you’re fully present and care about the content they’re sharing. How many times have you been in a conversation only halfway? How often do you only partly pay attention to the person speaking? Ask yourself which is hardest for you in the five components of the SLANT acronym. Is there one or two you could focus on improving for impactful results?

It can be tricky to give someone your full attention, especially if the conversation is boring you. Every conversation isn’t that interesting. If this happens, there are some interesting ways to spice things up for you and them, according to author of “Barking Up the Wrong Tree,” Eric Barker. Try these strategies: Ask really good questions to connect to the emotionality of the content. Explore the personal implications of the content. Conversations are about much more than delivery of information. There’s a dynamic occurring that is overt and covert. We’ve heard repeatedly from clients that people they interact with at network meetthemselves ings drone on about or are constantly searching the room for an upgrade. An upgrade is a person who might be “more important” than the one standing in front of them. It’s rude and dismissive. Be a kind listener instead.

If you need to move on from a dynamic with someone, have a sentence or two prepared that lets the other person know that you’d like to connect with someone else and do something different. You can do this in a gracious, complimentary way where everyone feels valued, understood and heard. It can be a delicate balance at times but one worth achieving.