CONNECT WITH OTHERS: 5 SUREFIRE TIPS

In business and life, you’re going to go farthest with those people you can build a bond with and really connect to. It’s not always easy to see how we’re similar to others. Here are some common things that can help you can bond with others:
- Family. You don’t have to air the family laundry, but if you have kids the same age and can share similar experiences, you have a great way to bond.
- Hobbies. Do you like knitting? Stamp collecting? The things you do in your spare time could help open new doors of communication you never knew existed.
- Pets. Do you have a dog or a cat or even something more exotic like a bird or reptile? People love to talk about their pets, sometimes more than their families, and this is a great way to bond with another person.
- Sports. Taking five minutes to talk about last night’s game isn’t going to lose the company any revenue. And bonding with people who like the same teams as you makes them more likely to want to be around you. Conversely, a playful rivalry sparked by a passion for opposing teams will also have people seeking you out—if only to gloat over their team being in a better position than yours. It’s still a door for open communication.
- Film, TV, Books. Again, it’s all about finding common interest—a weekly TV show you can talk about for a few minutes before the day begins or even to get a meeting rolling—that keeps you bonded with people you work with and keeps communication free and easy.

Tap into what interests people and focus your messages to appeal to these interests, and you’ll win every time.

(Excerpted from Loud and Clear by Karen Berg. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/wm2tod4)