How to Get the Most From Your "On the Table" Conversation

So, you've decided to join an On the Table conversation, and we're so glad you have! Maybe you're looking to meet a new face in the community. Perhaps you're joining a particular conversation to seek a remedy to a community issue. Or maybe you're just looking to share a meal and have a good time.

No matter why you've come to the table, you're invited, and your voice matters.

Here's a few tips on how you can get the most from your conversation(s) in 2019.

1. Be open. Whether you're sharing a meal with friends you know well or complete strangers, staying open to the conversation is a great place to start. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to agree on everything, it simply means you're OK to let the conversation take a different direction than you may have intended. By staying open, you may leave the conversation learning something you didn't know before it started.

2. Practice being comfortable being uncomfortable. Not all On the Table conversations press into deep discussions or touch on difficult topics. But some may! And that's a good thing; that's where change for our community begins to happen.

And over the past few years, we've taken a note from the advice of former president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, Terry Mazany. Regarding On the Table conversations, he'd often say, "Practice being comfortable being uncomfortable." Instead of immediately retreating from that uncomfortable feeling that may come with a challenging conversation, take a deep breath and try settling in a for a little while longer. You may be surprised at what you may learn.

3. Be willing to listen. We're all guilty of planning what we're going to say next when we're in a conversation. But resist the temptation to be the one always talking and make sure you're doing some active listening as well. The beauty of this day is that it creates an opportunity for us to hear from people we may have never heard from otherwise; don't miss out on that unique chance by dominating the conversation and not being willing to listen.