Christmas for many in New Zealand is a wonderful - albeit slightly crazy - contrast of traditional, hearty winter roasts and steam puddings consumed on a scorching summer day. Social conversations during the holiday season can be equally contrasting, from sedate family news to rampant political conspiracy debates! But these gatherings are also opportunities to delve into fascinating, fun, and stimulating topics. Here are some conversation starters and listening tips to get you talking.

As a good listener our goal is to understand the total meaning of the speaker’s message - the content and feelings - from their perspective. Ultimately, achieving this goal comes down to mindset, continually choosing to listen moment-by-moment throughout every conversation. How do we do this?