Craig Constantine
Hearing multiple things
How can we effectively handle conversations where multiple topics or threads are presented simultaneously, ensuring a balance between active listening, addressing key points, and maintaining conversational flow? Craig Constantine and Jesse Danger explore navigating multiple topics gracefully, leveraging listening as a tool, and the nuanced dance of giving and receiving information. This article is based More →
Take that back
Don’t give the impression you want an answer Revealing your questions in such a way points to the shape of the knowledge you are seeking. It’s important to imagine how what we say will be interpreted. Our conversations are able to move to a deeper level once you see how to reveal a question, without More →
Without purpose or agenda
Are you heading toward what you already understand or toward your unknown? In a conversation exploring the depths of dialogue and presence, Craig and Jesse delve into the intriguing parallels between Quaker meetings and Gurdjieff groups, revealing how these practices foster a deeply present state of mind, akin to a slow, thoughtful game of chess. More →
Without purpose or agenda
Are you heading toward what you already understand or toward your unknown? In a conversation exploring the depths of dialogue and presence, Craig and Jesse get into the intriguing parallels between Quaker meetings and Gurdjieff groups, revealing how these practices foster a deeply present state of mind, akin to a slow, thoughtful game of chess. More →
Adversity and challenge
What is the difference between adversity and challenge in the context of conversations, and how can one navigate these dynamics to foster curiosity and deeper understanding? Exploring the fine line between adversity and challenge can transform the nature of our conversations. “I agree with everything you’re saying. I think from Errol’s quote, my first reading, More →
Fostering exchange
Acting as the expedition leader A good conversationalist is capable of leading people on a mutual expedition toward understanding. The common ways to imagine guiding a conversation are to ask questions, invite stories, or to generally encourage others to share with you. You can expand your conversational flexibility by finding less usual ways. Intentionally trying More →
How to Know a Person
Book How to Know a Person by David Brooks, 2023 — As David Brooks observes, “There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen–to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and More →
Common ground
Revealing questions to find common ground If we start from understanding, and move together towards a common purpose, we’ll soon find common ground. Mostly what I am seeking, in a good conversation, is understanding. Both understanding the other, and to be understood myself. Only with mutual understanding can we ever find common purpose. I believe More →
Upward spiral
The positive feedback of seeking the interesting I’m sometimes asked how to cultivate curiosity to improve one’s conversations. There is a positive feedback loop that can arise when we notice we are interested. We are drawn to return to that place or to that situation. Unfortunately, we quickly tire of places and situations. To thrive, More →
Holes
Getting a handle on the unknown We cannot tackle the unknown by simply tumbling into the void. Questions are knowledge-shaped holes. Having such a shape provides anticipation for learning. Do we want the first answer for every question? Do we really want just whatever happens to be the first thing we discover that fits? There’s More →