Talking Tips

Accept compliments

Acknowledge people

Admit mistakes

Admit when you’re wrong

Agree with what you can agree on

Answer the phone with friendliness

Apologise

Ask for forgiveness

Ask people about their lives

Ask questions

Avoid argument

Avoid complaining

Avoid swearing

Be a voice for the voiceless

Be gracious

Be happy for other people's success

Be interested

Be mindful of sensitive spots

Be the first to introduce yourself

Be the first to say sorry

Be warm

Call or visit people if you know they're lonely, and talk about good or happy things with them

Check in on people if they’re struggling

Comfort people who are sad

Compliment people in genuine ways, especially if they’ve gone to effort

Compliment people’s pets

Don't judge

Encourage

Encourage people if they are trying to make improvements

Encourage people’s dreams and hopes

Find out what matters to people

Get along with people

Give compliments

Give your attention

Greet

Have tact

Keep confidential information confidential

Keep quiet if you haven't got something nice to say, or try to think of something nice to say

Keep your face looking cheerful

Know when to speak up and when to keep quiet

Let people finish talking before you talk

Listen

Listen to people's stories without necessarily telling them yours

Look for ways to uplift and encourage

Look people in the eyes, but not for too long or in an intense kind of way

Make people laugh in a good way

Offer helpful suggestions

Plead your cause

Put distractions away

Read cues

Remember people's names

Reply to messages, texts, emails, and phone calls

Reply when you’re spoken to

Respond

Say bless you when people sneeze

Say excuse me when you want to be excused

Say nice things about other people

Say only positive or neutral things, not negative things

Say people’s name when talking to them, but not too many times

Say please when you ask for things

Say something friendly or positive when you first see people

Say sorry if you’ve hurt someone or done the wrong thing

Say thank you

Say thank you if complimented

Say what you mean

Say yes if you can

Share good news

Share what you know

Share your experiences

Share your story

Show empathy

Show sympathy

Smile

Smile when you answer the phone

Speak at a good volume, not too loud or quietly

Speak calmly

Speak clearly

Speak only when your mouth is empty

Start conversations

Talk less, or more if you don’t talk much

Talk to people if they’re standing alone

Talk to people you don't know

Tell people you love that you love them

Tell the truth

Thank people who have inspired you or taught you something or shared with you

Think before you speak

Try not to embarrass people

Try not to talk too much about any ailments

Try to change the topic if conversations go bad

Try to understand

Wait until you're calm about something before talking about it

Welcome people when they join your group

Write notes for people with friendly words