5 Steps of Conversation

In the 5 steps of Conversation, it is said to follow this order

Opening --> Feedforward --> Business --> Feedback --> Closing

Now, as we all understand, when we meet someone, these are the steps we generally got through. And that we officially will greet each other, talk a little about some generally things (opening) and slowly specify down towards what you want to say (feedforward). Next you go straight into business and discuss about the topic at hand. Following which you hear what the other person has to say (feedback) and when all is agreed or concluded you close off.

Relating it back to our daily lives, this doesn't really happen does it. There are many different situations and they all vary.

NORMAL FRIENDS

You would start off with an opening to start the ball rolling. And the feedforward is very subtle, almost unseen. It's as if you merged the opening and feedforward together along with the business as well. In fact sometimes you don't even reach into the business part cause as friends, you tend to digress from the topic. As for the feedback, its almost absent here. Possible because as NORMAL FRIENDS, the listener don't want to be judged and therefore dare not disagree or give comments that might differ from the speaker.

CLOSE FRIENDS (during a crisis)

As close friends, the opening is absent as both of you are already comfortable. You immediately launch into the feedforward and start of the business. The feedforward would be very minimal for as close friends, the listener is expected to know what the speaker is talking about. Feedback in this form of relationship takes a larger percentage of the whole conversation for both listener and speaker are able to accept the opinions of each other. Or expect to accept. And you would realize that the closing, somehow resembles the general opening. They would actually start asking and talking about things such as "So how are you now?", "Had lunch yet?" for the closing/opening.

WORKING COLLEAGUES

Opening is done at the beginning of the day when you first meet. And that's it. Everything else is business. And closing is at the end of the day. Think about it. You come in to work and the usual "Hi" "Hello" "How are you" How's the kids" thing go around. And nothing else. Occasionally you would joke around. Then most of the time its straight to feedforward and business. And at the en of the day, its the "bye" "take care" " drive safely". And that's it. There is no time to go through all 5 stages during a conversation in the work place.

ENEMY

HAHA You go straight to business. In giving crititcs and annoying your enemy. It's either business or feedback. But i prefer to call it feedback because they give you your weaknesses. Of course not all are applicable, but you can get some good stuff of your enemies sometimes. But that's besides the point, the point is there is no opening nor closing nor feedforward. But only business and feedback. Even if there is an opening and closing, it is minimal and insignificant.

THE CONCLUSION

The 5 stages of conversation is, like the other theories, only theoreticle. It doesn't really apply to real life.