By Riaz Meghji, Human Connection Expert
To be successful, we need to cultivate meaningful relationships, and to establish those relationships, we need meaningful conversation.
Your words have the ability to teach, inspire, or destroy a person at any given moment. The right words at the right time can be life changing. Make every conversation count.
For every conversation, I take one approach: cultivate curiosity by taking a genuine interest in the person or idea in front of you. Ask for stories, not just answers. Emotion is everything, and you will find it when people share their own personal experiences. If being human is increasingly optional, it will become the most powerful choice you can make.
If you want to be interesting, start with being interested. Seek to understand not only what people do with their time, but also why they do it. By understanding their why, you will understand what motivates them to act, and you will discover strong engagement points for building personal and professional relationships.
The CONVO method is a great way to transform small talk into meaningful dialogue:
COMMONALITY: Like attracts like. Find and emphasize similarity as this helps build trust.
OCCUPATION: In addition to finding out what they do, ask why they do it.
NAME: The person’s name is the most important word in your conversation. Remember it.
VULNERABILITY: Have the courage to be yourself. Contribute more than you criticize.
OPINION: Want to effectively start the conversation? Ask someone their opinion on something.
A conversation can change everything or change nothing.
The decision is up to you.
Riaz Meghji is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author of Every Conversation Counts. Join him—and other experts in business, leadership, and so much more—at EVOLVE 2026 on Tuesday, November 17. Early-access registration closes October 2!
