The human brain is built for conversation, but we achieve better results when we think strategically about listening and making a few simple, deliberate choices that support our conversational goals.

The following flow charts show a series of choices that you face in conversation starting with the most basic: whether to talk or listen. Your mission is to identify, and support, your goals for having this particular conversation in the first place.

As the above chart describes, when you are self-aware in a conversation, and thus conscious of making choices, there are two initial options to consider as described.