How to have deeper (and better) conversations with your coworkers

The shared understanding that builds relationships starts with genuine, active listening, which is a neglected art in a world filled with distractions and multitasking.

• Turn your phone into aeroplane mode and go somewhere to talk to a colleague where people would not interrupt you.
• Reset your mindset about what a discussion is, as we are trained only to listen long enough to load our ‘reply’ rifle.
• Only paying surface-level attention to your colleague and waiting for your turn is not going to cut it, and one has to pay real attention here.

• A good conversation is a joint effort, with each person building on the other, and this ‘construction’ of trust and cooperation does not have any space for competitiveness or one-upmanship.
• When we try to impress, disagree with, or argue with the other person with an aim to 'win', we do not deepen our relationship.
• Winning an argument is a temporary win and a loss in the long run.
• We need to aim for creating mutual knowledge instead of making the other person subscribe to our mindset.