I'm not so sure I would call this a real conversation but let me share with you a little game I often play in my head. I usually play it when I am driving on a long journey, and sometimes when I cannot sleep at night or when I know I am not going to be interrupted.
I interview myself on a topic; usually, one of interest, e.g. Conversational Leadership or one for a bit of fun, say my views on Trump or Brexit.
I pretend that the interview is in real-time say on stage or the radio and I am being interviewed by a tough, maybe highly skeptical, even aggressive interviewer. I am as hard on myself as I can be. I don't allow myself, to start again, and if I talk myself down a one-way alley, I have to talk my way out of it. I put the pressure on myself!
It's interesting to reflect as to what's goes on in my head when I do this.
In response to a question, I draw fragments of knowledge from deep in my mind and form them together in some structured away and express them through speech in real-time.
At the same time, I'm listening to what I'm saying and looking for the flaws in my logic.
Also in parallel, I am thinking of questions and responses that I'm going to verbalize through the mouth of my phantom interviewer.
It's quite amazing that the human mind can do all of this at the same time!
I also have two variant's of this that are a little kinder on myself, first I make it a conversation rather than an interview and second I pretend I am giving a speech on a topic. No preparation, I launch right into it.
Try it, its a great way of testing out how informed you are on a topic on which you hold strong opinions
