Whether you are having a disagreement with someone, or going on a job interview, good communication skills will help you reach your goal. Here are a few good talking and listening skills:

Stay focused. Keep your conversation focused on the exact topic you are discussing. Try not to bring up other things that aren’t really related to what you are talking about.

Listen carefully. When the other person is talking, don’t just think about what you want to say next. Try to really listen to what they are saying, and wait for them to finish before you talk.

Say “I” not “you.” Talk about how you feel: “I get frustrated when you don’t do your chores,” not, “You are so lazy!” This helps the other person understand how their actions affect you.

Keep an open mind. Be willing to change your mind. You might learn something from the other speaker that you didn’t know, and that helps you see things in a new way.