To really connect with people and, as the end result, earn more clients, you have to build that foundation.
Like building anything, you start with the foundation and build your way up.
When building a connection like that with other people, it is important, though, to do so with an honest approach.
Anything less than that, and people will pick up on it and you will not make the point you had hoped to make, nor will you do justice for your brand and your business.
The First Steps The first thing you want to do is tell a story to drive your point home.
Adding a story makes the entire experience more personal.
Without one, it simply sounds like some sort of sales pitch.
Add a story and it comes across more like you are sharing something with someone.
If you are trying to connect with someone fact to face, and when appropriate, you can then use physical contact to drive your point home.
Place your hand on the person's shoulder or offer a pat on the shoulder or forearm.
Some sort of gesture that, again, makes the interaction a personal experience.
A key to success for a more personal exchange is to recall the person's name and to use it throughout the conversation.
This creates a personalized experience for the person you are speaking with and helps create that connection.
You can also be sure to make deep eye contact, when you are speaking to an individual during a one on one conversation.
If you are speaking to a group, simply pick out just a few members of the audience and continue to make direct eye contact with them.
What's Next Another method to use to make the experience more personal, whether one to one or in a group setting, is to use facial expressions.
Using this step, especially when combined with making eye contact, helps to create a personal experience and create the connection you want.
While speaking with someone, or even in a groups setting, you can calibrate your vocal inflections, and the volume in which you are speaking, to match the level of rapport you have already built up.
It is a small but effective trick, and one that you should learn to use for all of your verbal interactions with potential clients.
Towards the end of presenting the information you wish to, make sure to ask for the opinion from whoever you are speaking with.
Inviting them to add input, especially something as personal as an opinion, really helps build a strong, rapport and connection.
The key to this is, though, to actually actively listen to what this person shares with you.
The Final Steps When planning your conversation and interaction with others, be sure to choose your words wisely and carefully.
Make each word count and let it add, effectively, to what you are trying to say.
Finally, and possibly most importantly, be certain to praise others publicly.
Whenever it is possible or appropriate, in fact, add in as much praise as possible, without going overboard.
To get more ideas about how to make real connections through communication, you can visit http://www.
play-your-best-game.
blogspot.
com/ for pointers.