I don't enjoy powertalk, because it reinforces my natural paranoia that people are out to get me. A lack of transparency just makes it worse. I can only really be honest around my dad/mom/brother.

I've gotten better at observing cues but not at speaking it.
I'll usually A&A or use humor to never answer questions, but how do I actually get better with powertalk? I've done the Gervais principle over and over. What is the intention behind powertalk? Are you well-meaning towards the other person or not? I don't get the underlying framework.