How to Practice a Generous Conversation

Generosity is an attitude. It can’t be pinned down in a strict definition—it's something you do, something you keep practicing.

 

Everyone is different. Treat one another with care, patience, and attention; this is the heart of a generous conversation.

 

Think of a generous conversation as a walk: you never know exactly which paths you’ll take. It’s about sharing and thinking together.

 

Hold a positive, attentive attitude toward yourself and your conversation partner(s)—whether they’re individuals or other beings.

• Make sure everyone feels comfortable.

• Define your shared starting point, a question or a theme.

• Take your time; there is no pressure. This is an experiment.

 

Listen first. Repeat or validate what you’ve heard, and only then add to it.
Avoid correcting or criticizing—simply contribute.

 

Remember: there’s no strict border between personal and professional life, theory and practice. The personal is political; the theoretical is lived. Don’t stay in only one realm.

 

Ground the conversation in lived experiences whenever possible.

 

What is brought into the conversation belongs to everyone, from that moment on.

 

Each conversation is an experiment. It may lead somewhere unexpected.

 

Slow down. Breathe. Take your time.
Stay open and curious. It’s important to let your perspective shift as you go.
Trust the path.
Trust your intuition and the intuition of others.

 

Have fun. Laugh—and take that seriously.
Enjoy. Learn.