Talking, A Skill Anyone Can Improve

by Fred Vincent Margallo

I used to have difficulty talking to new people. Across middle school and high school, I talked to people I knew from past classes and I interacted with new people if they talked to me first, but I never initiated conversations with strangers. This passive approach made it difficult to make new friends, but I was satisfied with the small group of friends I had. Then I got to college. During my first year, there were more than 100 people in each of my classes; moreover, each class had a completely different set of people and lasted only a few months. I had no time to get used to the people around me and slowly form friendships as I had done in the past. That first year, I hardly talked to anyone.

I had always viewed talking as a talent. Those with it could talk to a wide variety of people about many different topics. Those without it could not. Reading Larry King and Bill Gilbert’s book, How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Communication, showed me that talking was a skill anyone could improve.

Talking is like any other skill: The more you practice it, the more proficient you get. And, like other skills, you have to start with the basics. King and Gilbert’s book describes the fundamental aspects of a successful conversation as being honest, showing interest in the other person, being open about yourself, and having the right attitude (a willingness to talk even when it might be uncomfortable at the beginning). I had the opportunity to extensively exercise these skills in the spring of my sophomore year when I got my first job as a part-time front-office staff member at a small clinic.

When I started my job, I was uncomfortable talking to patients over the phone and in person. I often had to ask my co-workers for help answering patient queries. Then, once I tried to relay the information, it came out jumbled up or some parts were missing, and the patients had difficulty understanding. Sometimes, my co-workers even had to clarify what I said. When calls came non-stop, patients would get upset because I kept them waiting for so long. However, I started using one of the strategies recommended by King and Gilbert: I told them the truth of my situation. I told them I was new and still being trained and would do my best to assist them. My honesty made most callers more patient and understanding, which gave me the courage to keep talking until the end of each call. As I completed more and more calls, I gradually became more and more comfortable talking to patients. I could see that my talking skills were improving, so I kept answering phone calls and talking to patients whenever possible. Toward the end of my first year working, I could coherently and accurately convey the information the patients requested.

King and Gilbert’s book changed how I viewed talking. Talking is not an innate talent. Although difficult for many, it can be improved through repeated practice, just like any other skill. This book teaches readers multiple methods to improve their talking skills, both for starting conversations and keeping them going. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their talking skills.

Fred Vincent Margallo has been a member of the Interactive Measurement Group since the summer of 2022. He has co-authored and presented a poster and has given several lab workshops. He is now a senior, majoring in biology and minoring in psychology. After graduation, he hopes to go to medical school with the goal of becoming a radiologist.