“In our high-tech world today, there are unlimited ways with which you can search for people, places, and events to connect you with like-minded people. Food enthusiasts? There are local cooking classes. Gardening fans? There are flower shows and garden expos. Kids in school? Join the PTA and get involved. There are clubs and groups for almost any interest these days and venturing out to make those connections is a powerful way to expand your insights, your network, and even your business.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“When all else fails, Mother Nature has provided you with a great social default for finding commonality with others. Since weather is a universally shared experience, it enables you to jump into a conversation with anybody and everybody. While discussing the weather may sound boring, trite, and predictable, it is a safe and the certain ice-breaker that can help you build commonality regardless of who you are addressing. As I write this, we have icy rain! It's never a boring topic.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“Earning Trust & Cooperation
The number one thing which stands between you and meeting a new person is tension. What is the number one thing which stands between a sales person and their prospect? You guessed it . . . tension. One of our first priorities as we initiate a first impression must be to focus on how to effectively minimize or eliminate tension.
Regardless of your relationship or venue, when tension is high, trust and cooperation are low. When tension is reduced, trust and cooperation increase. It is an inverse relationship. So, how can you move to reduce tension in your first impressions to increase trust and cooperation? Put yourself in their shoes and seek to relate to them with an equal footing on a level playing field. Demonstrate how you can bring value to their lives.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“As soon as someone believes you cannot be trusted, you are stopped dead in your tracks. Whether this perceived loss of trustworthiness is true or false, the perception alone can be damaging.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“I’ve Got to Trust You to Like You
People want to do business with people whom they like and trust. If anything in a business presentation raises concerns or doubt about your trustworthiness, everything shuts down. And then there's little hope of moving forward in a positive way—you’re done.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“What are those behaviors that make us take pause to think twice about a person’s trustworthiness? Guarded body language, lack of eye contact, nervous fidgeting, interrupting, speaking ill of others, lying, arrogance, and gossip to name a few.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“Rapport allows you to create a friendly compatibility and easy companionship which feels comfortable and enjoyable.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“When a leader nurtures an environment of trust, respect, and honesty—business soars, creativity and problem-solving are inspired, and collaboration enables people get more done in less time.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“Strengthen your first impressions by making the intentional effort to first earn people’s trust, and rapport will naturally follow.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact
“Can I Trust You?
Years ago, I heard Lou Holtz speak at a national conference. His rock-solid reputation preceded him—he is the only coach in the history of college football to take six different football teams to a bowl game. He is not only well-respected for his ability to elevate football programs, but to elevate individuals as well.
During his humorous and entertaining keynote, he taught a few small lessons which carried big meanings. He shared that every person you meet is privately asking themselves three questions:
1. Do you care about me?
2. Do I like you?
3. Can I trust you?
When you make an authentic, sincere, and dignified effort to create a positive first impression, you increase your chances of receiving a "Yes!" to those questions. Unfortunately, if someone you meet answers "No!" you’ve got an uphill battle to earn their business or develop a friendship.”
Source: The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact