Lisa Kirk said, "A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself."
I have found I can get a good read on someone in a conversation by how much talking they do about themselves. The sharper people and leaders I have met, will answer my questions and then will try to turn the conversation back to me. Also, I can read a lot by how they make me feel by the end of the conversation. So personally, I want to be the person who is genuinely interested in the other person and leave with them feeling good about themselves.
