I’ve lost the original thought, to my shame, but it’s the most helpful conversation concept I’ve encountered in a long time:
Conversation as improvisation.
It’s not the most intuitive framework for conversation. For me, my fallback structure for conversation is a different concept:
Conversation as competition.
That concept doesn’t imply that I try to “win” every conversation I’m part of—though admittedly I do like a good argument!—but rather that I pit myself against conversational partners in a metaphorical rally.
Let’s keep the ball up in the air!
The concept generates a sense of responsibility: when the ball is in your court, do something interesting, and then sock it in another direction.
Conversation as improvisation suggests a different (and less competitive) direction. It suggests a conversation that is less combative and more collaborative, suggests a mode in which people build something together.
Taylor Coe 