The purpose of conversation is to create and improve understanding, not for one party to “deliver messages” to the other. That would be rude.

There is no “audience” in a conversation. If we must label others in conversation, let’s call them partners.

People in productive conversation don’t repeat what they’re saying over and over. They learn from each other and move topics forward.

Conversations are about talking, not announcing. They’re about listening, not surveying. They’re about paying attention, not getting attention. They’re about talking, not announcing.

“Driving” is for cars and cattle, not conversation.

Conversation is live. Its constantly moving and changing, flowing where the interests and ideas of the participants take it. Even when conversations take the form of email, what makes them live is current interest on both sides.