Alison Wood Brooks highlights practical strategies for improving communication, starting with reframing anxiety as excitement to enhance performance in high-pressure situations like negotiations or public speaking. She introduces the Conversational Compass, a framework that helps prioritize relationship-building alongside information exchange, emphasizing that not all valuable conversations need to be deeply informative—bonding and enjoyment matter too. Effective apologies require ownership and change, not over-explaining, while active listening, validation, and avoiding immediate disagreement foster openness. The TALK framework promotes intentional topic selection, authenticity, warmth, and levity. Asking thoughtful questions—especially follow-ups—and resisting 'boomerang' responses build real connection. Vulnerability is key to friendship, particularly for men socialized to avoid emotional talk. Finally, while AI tools are emerging in coaching, human presence, genuine expression, and teaching these skills early remain irreplaceable for fostering true connection in an increasingly digital world.