Success in your life will largely depend on how well you get on and communicate with other people.

          There is nothing like a smile and the use of a few simple words of praise to please others.

          The ability to ask simple questions and to make the time to listen carefully can change your life.  You can learn much.

A handful of tips to help you succeed in life

* Establish a rapport

          Don’t be in a hurry when you meet others,  smile and show a genuine interest in the person. Aim to establish a rapport by sharing common experiences and mutual interests. 

          Make a special effort to remember names.

          You may need to do some gentle prodding to get the person chatting.  ” How are you coping with this cold weather?” “Where did you go grow up? ” “Have you any special interests?   “What do you do for a living?”

* Be honest and sincere

          Be open with people. Express your own views and if necessary, give reasons why you hold certain beliefs.

          Always remember important words like: “please”, “thank you, “sorry”, and “What do you think?”

* Listen to others

          Have patience and let people talk. They like to share their successes and background experiences. 

          Listen carefully and don’t keep interrupting.

           Ask open-ended questions. “Why do you believe that?”

* Show empathy

          Try to understand the feelings, concerns, and problems of other people. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you were in their situation?

* Be supportive

          Make others feel better about themselves. Praise their successes and their good works. Help them take pride in their work.

          It is very important to make people feel they are needed and their contribution is valued.

          Use words like, “You did a great job!”, “Well done!”, “Thank you.”

          Praise loudly – blame softly!

The most important word is “we” and the least important word is “I”.

-Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Smile and others will smile with you.”

SOURCE: For more on this topic see:  “Persuasive Ways” first published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand, and in Chinese by Shanghai People’s Publishing House, and as “Secrets of Persuasion” by Cengage Learning Asia. (Available as an e-book from Amazon.com.) Also available as “Getting Your Ideas Across” from Kogan Page, U.K., and a  Hungarian translation published by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado, Budapest.