After read “Never Eat Alone” (see my past post) by Keith Ferrazzi I subscribed to his Tip of the Week a number of months ago. It was well worth it.
You receive a short, well written and relevant tip (at least to relationship builders) each week. The contents vary but the theme remains consistent, connecting with people. Below is this weeks tip, Tip 131 - Four Tips to Make New Connections Fast to give you a flavour.
There's more!
Keith has started a new community (Your success and joy powered by relationships). I have joined myself and first impressions are very positive. Don't take my word, check it out for yourself. Click to join
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Tip 131 - Four Tips to Make New Connections Fast
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Today I've culled some of the best relationship-building tips I've come across recently in books that have made the rounds on my nightstand.
1. Talk in Color. Nicholas Boothman, in his book How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds, reminds us that one of the best ways to make a good impression is to engage someone's imagination. "Don't talk in black and white, learn to talk in color. Involve as many senses as you can," he writes. For some people this may come naturally. Others may feel like it's "too much." So practice - on your cat, your grandmother, your husband or wife. Like a comedian, try out your material on a test audience. They'll tell you if you crossed over from charismatic to kookoo. (Well, everyone except your cat.)
2. Look people in the eye. This one is nothing new, but I mention it because Boothman (again in How to Make People Like You) serves up what I think is a great exercise to put it into practice. While watching TV, check the eye color of each and every actor. Once you've identified it, say it in your head. Then switch the practice over to real life.
3. Put something interesting on your business card. I love this tip, from Andy Sernovitz's Word of Mouth Marketing. Andy sent me my copy of this book, and he practices what he preaches: Tucked into it was a business card with this very tip on it. If you're self-employed and create your own business cards, ask yourself, "What can I do that makes this business card useful and memorable?" If you can offer clients some good advice, for example, you're putting your best foot forward by showing both expertise and generosity.
4. Host a Weekly "Know How" speakers series. This is from Tom Kelley's The Ten Faces of Innovation, a deepthink on how to set the conditions for innovation and creativity at an organizational level. Talking about the value of cross-pollination, Kelley writes that his company hosts a world-class thinker weekly to speak. You could do this yourself - at your office, your church, your community center, even your living room. On top of being a great way to spur creativity, it's a great way for you, the organizer, to stand out. You'll not only be a new celebrity, you'll also get to know all those great local thought leaders that you put on the podium. If weekly sounds like too much of a time commitment, think about organizing a biweekly or monthly event.
I hope one or all of these tips help you boost your relationship-building skills in the immediate future.
Does anyone out there already have a great business card they'd like to share on my blog?
Warmest,
Keith
Ferrazzi Greenlight, 8581 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 482, Los Angeles, CA 90069, USA
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