Five Common Mistakes in Conversations and Their Solutions Good morning. Today's lecture will focus on the five most common mistakes in conversations and the ways to avoid them. Can you improve your conversation skills? Certainly. It might take a while to change the conversation habits that's been ingrained throughout your life, but it is very possible. Let's just skip right to some common mistakes many of us have made in conversations. And there are some solutions. First mistake, not listening. Ernest Hemingway once said: "I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen." Don't be like most people. Don't just wait eagerly for your turn to talk. Put your own ego on hold. Learn to really listen to what people actually are saying. When you start to really listen, you'll pick up on loads of potential paths in the conversation. But avoid yes or no type of questions as they will not give you much information.