Feb 15
Anything you can do I can do better
I must admit, I've been guilty of this 'one-upmanship' many a time.
Sometimes, whilst listening to another person's amazing story, I will remember one of my own, and this anecdote will slowly cloud my mind. I am no longer listening to story-A, as my mind is focussed on that moment when story-A has been told, so that I can chime in with my award-winning story-B.
I wonder how many anecdotes I've one-up'd in my life.
The art of conversation is pretty simple: you listen, then you ask questions, and it's bloody amazing where it leads you.
You get to know people's backgrounds, motives, attitudes, loves and hates, which are pretty handy knowledge as you navigate relationships.
A stunning thing also happens - the talker warms to you; they feel valued, because you're not immediately charging in with your attempt to diminish their experiences.
Source: http://blogs.watoday.com.au/executive-style/allmenareliars/2011/02/17/oneupmanship.html
