Having More Memorable Conversations

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Overview

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Think about the most powerful conversation you've ever had with someone else. Things were likely flowing, and you probably left the conversation feeling energized and excited about what you'd just discussed. In this course, communications expert Betsy Butterick shares her tips and tricks for how you can have more of these conversations. Betsy first reviews the fundamentals of a great conversation and gives you the basic tools to navigate its progression. She then provides specific tactics you can apply that can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your conversation. She goes on to explore how you can progress the conversation by asking questions, leaving room for dialogue, and even allowing for disagreement! Betsy closes by covering how you can effectively ask someone else for something without coming across as burdensome, and gives her tips for expressing meaningful gratitude to your conversation partners. You'll finish this course feeling excited and empowered to start having better conversations.

Syllabus

Listening to Understand

Most people think they're good listeners — but in everyday conversations, we're often just waiting for our turn to speak. In this module, you'll build a foundation for more intentional conversations by shifting from reactive responding to genuine listening, so you can create stronger connections and leave a lasting impression on everyone you meet.

Reducing Weak Language

The words you choose build your credibility — but the words you overuse can quietly undermine it. In this module, you'll identify the filler words and phrases that are diluting your message, build strategies to reduce them, and develop a self-compassionate awareness practice so that noticing your habits becomes a cause for celebration rather than criticism.

Creating Space for Dialogue

Most conversations stay surface-level not because of what we say, but because of what we ask. In this module, you'll build the skill of intentional question design — learning to reframe limiting questions, ask one well-crafted question at a time, and uncover deeper insights about the people you're talking with, so every conversation becomes an opportunity for genuine connection.

Emotional Intelligence in Conversation

Every conversation carries an emotional undercurrent — and how well you read it determines how effectively you connect. In this module, you'll build your emotional intelligence toolkit by learning to recognize the emotions at play in yourself and others, harness the brain's neurochemistry to create positive conversational experiences, and expand your emotional vocabulary so your responses are more precise, more genuine, and more memorable.

The Three W's

Every conversation is shaped by what's currently true for the person you're talking with — but most of us never think to ask. In this module, you'll gain a simple yet powerful set of three questions that quickly surface what someone is working on, worried about, and winning at, so you can show up with greater empathy, stronger presence, and more intentional connection in any conversation.

The Power of Names

Your name is the most personal word in any language — and using someone else's name is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to make them feel genuinely seen. In this module, you'll build confidence using names as a conversational tool, with practical strategies for both new and established relationships, so every exchange leaves the other person feeling more valued and more connected to you.

One Small Shift

The difference between connection and disconnection in a conversation can come down to a single word. In this module, you'll discover how swapping one three-letter word for another can change the entire emotional experience of an exchange — so you can stay connected with people even when you disagree, and leave them feeling valued rather than dismissed.

Rephrase In The Positive

Your brain doesn't process negatives the way you speak them — and that gap has real consequences for the results you get in conversations. In this module, you'll build the habit of stating what you want rather than what you don't want, so your language works with the brain instead of against it, and the people around you — including yourself — are more likely to produce the outcomes you're looking for.

Framing Your Ask

Asking for what you want is a skill — and like all skills, it gets better with preparation. In this module, you'll build a practical framework for making important requests by aligning your ask with what the other person values, anticipating the barriers that could stand in your way, and walking into the conversation with the confidence that comes from genuine preparation.

Expressing Gratitude

Gratitude is more than a social nicety — it's a neurological tool that opens pathways in the brain, strengthens relationships, and transforms the quality of your most difficult conversations. In this module, you'll build a daily gratitude practice, learn to replace apologies with appreciation, and leave the course with a complete, actionable communication toolkit ready to use in every conversation you have.