How to master meaningful conversations this Christmas

The big day is nearly upon us and the diary is set with work events and festive trips to visit family and friends. 

But how many times do you come away from these Christmas get-togethers thinking that you’ve barely moved past small talk with the majority of people there? 

The lead up to Christmas can be busy however, particularly if you’re playing host, or you throw small children into the mix, but it’s equally an important time to build and maintain relationships through conversations, when people come together to celebrate and create memories they may call upon for years to come. 

So how can we have more meaningful conversations?

Be fully present

Wherever you can, when you enter into a conversation, be fully present with that person. If that’s not going to be possible, then think about conducting a more meaningful conversation at another time. It’s like when the person on the end of the phone is trying to multitask or your line manager is distracted by an e-mail during your 1:1. It makes you feel like you’re not important enough for them to concentrate on just you in that moment. By being present and giving your full attention, you are communicating that the other person is of importance and that relationship is worthy of your time and energy.

Practice empathy and active listening

When was the last time you truly listened to another person? We are programmed to reply with an exchange of ideas, but I challenge you this Christmas to actively listen to what the other person is saying. Stephen R. Covey in his book ‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’ states that one of the key principles of effective communication is to ‘seek first to understand, then to be understood.’ It’s about listening with the intent to truly understand a person’s perspective, rather than simply preparing a response whilst they talk. A response, such as 'That must have been really challenging,' makes a person feel they have been truly heard, so they develop a deeper connection.

Ask insightful questions 

Small talk can sometimes barely get past ‘How’s work?’ or ‘Are the family all ok?’ But whilst these questions are polite, they won’t lead to a stronger bond. By asking insightful questions that begin with ‘What’ or ‘How,’ the other person can’t answer with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ This opens up a meaningful dialogue where feelings and experiences are shared, allowing the conversation to move beyond surface level.  

Honing your communication skills is invaluable, for both your professional and personal life, and empowers you to connect with others in a way that leaves a lasting impact. I always remember these wise words from Maya Angelou ‘’people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ To uplevel your communication in 2025, find out how I can help you by booking in a call with me below:

https://link.feacreate.com/widget/bookings/initialcallwithsarah

Image by MKP Captain from Pixabay, Image by Ivonne Nöhren from Pixabay, Photo by Jon Ly on Unsplash, Image by OurWhisky Foundation from Pixabay