10 Powerful Conversation Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People

1. They Make Silence Their Superpower

• Practice the 3-second rule after someone stops talking.
• Most jump to fill the void; high EQ people let insights emerge.

2. They Listen to Body Language First, Words Second

• Watch hands, not faces (hands are harder to control).
• Mirror subtle movements to build unconscious rapport.

3. They Turn Statements into Questions

• Replace "That must be hard" with "How are you handling that?"
• Questions starting with "What" reveal more than "Why."

4. They Acknowledge Emotions Before Solutions

• Use "I hear how frustrated you are" before "Have you tried...".
• Naming the emotion creates an instant connection.

5. They Master the Art of the Pause

• Take a sip of water before responding to tough questions.
• Use: "That's interesting. Let me think about that" to create space.

6. They Make Others Feel Intellectually Safe

• Respond to ideas with "Yes, and…" instead of "But…".
• Share your own mistakes first in difficult conversations.

7. They Detect Energy Shifts

• Notice when someone’s shoulders tense.
• Ask: "How’s that landing for you?" when discussing sensitive topics.

8. They Exit Conversations Gracefully

• Set clear expectations: "I have 15 minutes – shall we focus on…".
• End with a specific next step, not a vague "Let’s keep in touch."

9. They Make Micro-Commitments

• Use: "Let me understand this better" instead of "I understand."
• Small promises kept > big promises made.

10. They Create Conversation Containers

• Start with: "What would make this conversation valuable for you?"
• End with: "What’s your key takeaway?"

Credit: Véronique Barrot. Thank you for sharing such an insightful and well-researched article.