And he did it in numerous ways -- in small groups, telephone conversations, meetings in the Oval Office, meetings in the residence.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

He will continue those discussions when he meets with Senate Republicans and House Democrats, and he will continue these discussions in conversations and meetings, small and large, with lawmakers going forward.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Come on up, Mr. Mayor -- (applause) -- because I want to make sure that -- this is the kind of town where the rubber hits the road and I'm going to be having conversations with workers, small businesses, community colleges, and I want the mayor just to give a sense of what's going on and what you think would make the biggest difference in your town.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Closes Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth

"Over the years it has been the small steps, it has been the quiet conversations that have enabled the big picture to be changed and I think this has certainly helped in that, " he said.

BBC: Cardiff talks should make Northern Ireland summer 'safer'

It was as if I were breaking the rules we had worked for years to set up, a system of small courtesies and avoidances and slow, fluid conversations that ran for days, pieces of hearsay and local news passed back and forth over meals and cups of tea to cover the bewildered quiet that had fallen upon us.

NEWYORKER: The Cold Outside

There are also small dashes of Shakespeare's own dialogue peppering several conversations.

CNN: Review: To see, or not to see, 'Shakespeare in Love'

If you are a small retailer, look for ways you can leverage your customer relationships to keep in conversations.

FORBES: Retail Sales Meet Mobile Growth: iPad Tops List

"Those kinds of conversations convey trust and are consistent with what you might expect in a small workplace, " she says.

WSJ: More Small Companies Are Using Software to Keep Tabs on Workers

In the next phase of our work, we want start conversations about acceptance across the country- in schools and community organizations, in businesses large and small.

WHITEHOUSE: Just Like You