Whether it’s your personal or professional life, it’s important that you know how to connect with other people. Making authentic connections plays a vital role in achieving success because it expands your network and opens doors for new opportunities.
This goes way beyond just attending a social or corporate event and collecting contact information of people there or introducing your business and what you’re offering. You have to make an impression. But how can you do that?
Members of the Young Entrepreneur Council has shared bits of tips and secrets to making an impact and building authentic connections. Know what their preferred approach is and what makes them effective.
Making connections is vital in achieving success in your professional and personal lives.
Offer to Help Them Find a Solution
You would most likely meet people who are in one way or another dealing with a problem that they need help with. According to ProTexting’s Kalin Kassabov, a good way to initiate a connection is by offering advice or help without expecting something in return.
So, don’t pitch them a service outright. If the problem is not your expertise, you can help them by referring them to someone more adept.
Don’t Expect Anything
Jared Weitz of United Capital Source Inc stresses that you shouldn’t have expectations when you approach a potential connection. This is because people can subconsciously feel the inauthenticity. Try to get to know them first.
Don’t Try Too Hard, Show Interest Instead
OneIMS’s Solomon Thimothy believes in the saying that if you want to be interesting, you should be interested. Don’t try too hard to make an impression because there’s no guarantee that everyone will like you.
Just be yourself and let your personality shine. Show them that you are indeed interested in who they are and what they like.
Make them feel that you’re interested in what they have to say.
Listen and Give Them Your Attention
Matthew Capala of Alphametic tries to ask questions and listen to their answers all the while making eye contact. Looking into their eyes makes them feel that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying and that you’re present in the moment.
Nowadays, everyone wants to talk yet only a few are willing to listen. Daisy Jing of Banish adds that you should give other people the spotlight instead of asking for it. You can further do this by pointing out something interesting in their story and probing about it.
Talk About Your Passions
Fueled’s Ryan D Matzner believes that our passions play a big part in what makes us unique. Go past surface conversations and small talk and talk about your true self and what fuels you. This can make a strong impression on your audience.
Concentrate on Your Conversation
Not focusing on the person you’re talking to is not just rude, it also tells them that you’re not interested in whatever they’re saying, according to Stephanie Wells of Formidable Forms.
Concentrate on your audience and your conversations so you won’t risk breaking connections and making them feel uncomfortable. Interact with them and ask questions so they are aware that you’re interested and paying attention.
Focus on your audience and your conversation.
Find Something You Have in Common
Finding your common ground is one of the most usual ways of connecting with other people. May it be a shared hobby or a work-related thing, you’ll be able to bond over a topic that you both know about and connect naturally.
Mind Your Body Language
Making an impression doesn’t just involve words. Body language is also a significant factor in how other people perceive us. Syed Balkhi of WPBeginner says that you should have an open demeanor when talking to an acquaintance.
Try not to cross your arms or legs. Also, try to make eye contact and nod when you’re interacting with them. Make them comfortable by having the right body language.
Be Open-Minded
Christ Christoff of MonsterInsights says that we tend to get caught up with our thoughts, wants, and feelings that we fail to hear from other people. This can make you miss opportunities to connect with someone. Be open-minded and listen to what they have to say. Respect their ideas and respond accordingly and with tact.