Success Secrets:

People Skills

Connecting with People

How To Become More Successful in Business by Learning to Connect with Others

Why Connect with People?

Connecting with people "is not about being phony or acting like someone you are not; it's about creating a favorable link between your internal nature with its beliefs and values, and the external world where you go to work."¹ Learning to connect fast with your customers, colleagues, bosses, employees, and even total strangers by taking full advantage of your body, your mind, your voice, and above all your imagination will give you a significant competitive edge. It will help you maximize the potential in every relationship, be it personal, business-related, or social.

Eye Contact

Eye is one of the most important nonverbal channels you have for communication and connecting with other people. "The cheapest, most effective way to connect with people is to look them into the eye."¹ Eyes are not only the "window to the soul", they also answer the critical questions when you are trying to connect:

• Is he paying attention to what I'm saying?

• Does this person find me attractive?

• Does this person like me?¹... More

Taking the Preferred Styles Into Account

To work effectively with people, take their preferred style of interaction and decision-making into account. Many misunderstandings derive from differences in style. For example, "Perceivers" may see "Judgers" as unwilling to take the time to explore creative options. Conversely, "Judgers" can become irritated by "Perceivers" who may stray from the agenda... More

Connecting with Senses

Different people take in the world through different senses. People have different preferred ways of thinking and communicating their experiences – some express themselves in pictures,  others talk about how things sound to them, and others speak about how things feel. If you want to connect with them, you have to figure out which sense they favor... More

Managing Cross-Cultural Differences

Culture is often at the root of communication challenges. Exploring historical experiences and the ways in which various cultural groups have related to each other is key to opening channels for cross-cultural communication. Becoming more aware of cultural differences, as well as exploring cultural similarities, can help you communicate with others more effectively. Next time you find yourself in a confusing situation, ask yourself how culture may be shaping your own reactions, and try to see the world from the other's point of view... More

 Case in Point  Dalai Lama

Invited to speak before the crowd of six thousand –  the seekers, the curious, and the skeptical - at Arizona State University in 1993, Dalai Lama entered the lecture hall and walked through the crowd smiling broadly and greeting people as he passed by, writes Howard C.Cutler.²

"Finally passing through a curtain, he walked on stage, bowed, folded his hands, and smiled. He was greeted with thunderous applause. At his request, the house lights were not dimmed so he could clearly see his audience, and for several moments he simply stood there, quietly surveying the audience with an unmistakable expression of warmth and goodwill. For those who had never seen the Dalai Lama before, his maroon and saffron monk's robes may have created a somewhat exotic impression, yet his remarkable ability to establish rapport with his audience was quickly revealed as he sat down and began his talk."

Bibliography:

1. How To Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less, Nicholas Boothman

2. The Art of Happiness, HH the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and Howard C. Cutler

3. People Skills, Vadim Kotelnikov

4. Effective Leadership, Vadim Kotelnikov