Try Something Unnatural
Written on 6:51 PM by O
My antennas are up! Now more than ever I recognize opportunities for great communication with some really knowledgeable people. I am the youngest person who works in my division and haven’t quite gotten the hang of conversing fearlessly with people who know so much more than I do. Being in the science field, it is very obvious how much you know about specific topics. So I have remained a quiet absorber for the past few months. Fortunately, my involvement with this project has helped me realize that older generations did not have access to super powers that are not around anymore; there was a time when they too had to learn the (smart) language.
So I took a train ride with my division director a few days ago. I thought I’d try to initiate a normal conversation and see how well I would fair. I began by asking him questions based on what I knew about his background (where he worked before) and asked him about the travel he currently does on the job. I was quite amazed at myself and my ability to generate questions which got progressively easier as the conversation continued. I found that identifying common ground is a good first step. It was amazing how much he had to say and the parallels I could draw between his experiences and where I am now. He explained how worried he was about goofing up on his first job and how important it is to be mentored on entry to ease the transition. I completely agreed.
As the conversation continued, I felt more and more confident. I wasn’t saying much, but I was learning from the answers he gave as well as expressing my interest in the field to someone who might be in a position to point me in the right direction when I need it. It was awesome! The little effort made to overcome my insecurities has boosted my confidence. With a few more interactions like this (with other professionals who are experts in their fields); I should be able to build a repertoire of information and learn more of the jargon.
Do you recognize opportunities around you? What conversational styles are working for you?
