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Connecting with others is crucial to success in business and personal relationships as well as our overall well-being. However, learning how to connect with someone is not always easy, especially if your trust has been betrayed or you don’t have good relationship role models. Here are five ways you can form an instant connection with anyone and build a foundation for a deeper relationship.
1. Use mirroring when connecting with others
Up to 93% of who we are, and what we respond to, is nonverbal. We gravitate toward those like us or those who are what we aspire to be. A useful tip for connecting with others is to match and mirror the people we meet.
If their energy is high, increase yours to match. If their energy is low, level yours off to show you’re of kindred mind and spirit. Talk with your hands if they do. Raise or lower your voice with theirs. You can mirror people’s methods of touch and match the strength or delicacy of their handshake. Mimic their breathing patterns and their posture, facial expressions, tempo, and tone.
We naturally mirror those we feel a connection to, but the reverse has proven just as powerful. And we can organically stimulate that meaningful connection in others by initiating the process ourselves. This turns everyday interactions into an experience that leaves people with a lasting, positive impression of you. Just as importantly, you’ll have a lasting, positive impression of them.
2. Take a genuine interest in those you meet
How to connect with people usually boils down to just one word: caring. To show someone you care about them, you need to take a genuine interest in their lives. Ask thoughtful and insightful questions – no matter how different you are, you’ll find something of interest to connect over. Instead of thinking about your next response or your own stories, focus solely on them and show empathy for how they feel. This works in both personal and business settings. Once you show you are genuinely interested in the other person, a connection will naturally form.
