When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations — and that most of us don’t converse very well. Celeste Headlee has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation: Honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of listening. In this insightful talk, she shares 10 useful rules for having better conversations. “Go out, talk to people, listen to people,” she says. “And, most importantly, be prepared to be amazed.”

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDx Creative Coast, an independent event. TED’s editors chose to feature it for you.

1. Be in the moment. Don’t multi-task.
2. Don’t pontificate. As it was said if you don’t want a reply write a Blog.
3. Ask Open Ended questions. Who What Where When & How.
4. Go with the flow and let it flow out. Stay with the conversation.
5. If you don’t know – state it.
6. Don’t equate your experience with theirs – it’s not the same.
7. Don’t repeat yourself. You’re not at work or talking to your kids.
8. Stay out of the Weeds. Minute details such as dates aren’t that important.
9. Listen, Listen, and Listen
10. Be Brief