Become a Better Conversationalist When Seeking Privacy
As weird as it sounds, you’ll have a better conversation with others if you give yourself more time to reflect on your thoughts.
All conversations start with a thought, but it’s hard to ignite it if you don’t have time to think seriously. This is why MIT professor Sherry Turkle, author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in the Digital Age , suggests that privacy is essential for a good conversation going forward:
… alone we prepare for communication … together we learn more productive solitude … Afraid of being alone, we struggle to draw attention to ourselves. And what suffers is our ability to pay attention to each other. If we cannot find our own center, we lose confidence in what we can offer to others. Or you can work in circles in another way. We struggle to pay attention to each other, and our ability to know ourselves suffers.
This may sound a little counterproductive, but many great minds talk about the benefits of spending time alone . Being alone gives you the best opportunity to see who you really are and allows you to find your “center.” When you get to know yourself, it will be more convenient for you to share opinions and stories with others; and it makes conversation easier.
Conversation Recovery: The Power of Conversation in the Digital Age | Amazon via The Art of Masculinity