From the discussion of Celeste Headlee's We Need To Talk,

we had three major take-aways that we felt we could work on to improve the way we speak to others:

• to more consciously participate in active listening
• set the stage for our discussions, especially major ones during liqa'
• when interacting with others, keep in mind the main objective i.e. "I want to understand what moves this person emotionally"; this will naturally inform our body language to be the one that is welcoming, safe, and open

Here's a mind map to summarise the main points of our book this time round, 

i.e. what makes our conversations come alive and be effective:

(Click to enlarge)

One of my favourite bits is the chapter, "You Don't Know Everything", which basically expounds on the importance of showing vulnerability in creating trust. In a conversation, someone has to show vulnerability first, for the next person to show vulnerability in return, and thereby create a safe space for an open and honest exchange.

"Conversations are the basis of relationships and relationships are built on trust." The more open you are about your limitations, the more weight people give your opinion when you offer it.