If you are a carpenter, a software engineer, animal handler, or any other imaginable job title the fact of the matter is WE ARE ALL IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS. We all have been put on this rock orbiting around in space where we live in close proximity to one another, share resources, interact and trade; meaning, we are all must COMPETE or COOPERATE with each other to obtain the things. If you don’t know how to INTERACT SOCIALLY, FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS and ASSERT CREDIBILITY chances are that it is going to be a very difficult life. Even if your job does not directly involve people, there are things that all of us humans go through where being a people person definitely is a plus (i.e. negotiating home prices, getting a date, convincing your parents to take care of the baby for a night, get your significant other to get up and hand you the remote). If you we not born with the gift of gab or not a master sales executive, HAVE NO FEAR! I have left you a few tips below that will help you connect with people so you can GET THE THINGS YOU WANT:
PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE FIRST
I don’t care if it’s your BOSS, THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD or THE GUY THAT CHECKS YOUR WATER METER; people are not their job. People are not your OPINION of them. People are simply put…. PEOPLE. We all eat, sleep, like fun more than work, have a life and have people we care about. Once you realize that we are all more similar than you may have thought you will be able to relate to others in a more ORGANIC way and GENUINE This is essential for the next tip
“SELLING” IS JUST ANOTHER BUZZ WORD FOR “UNDERSTANDING”
Have you ever sold something? If you have, you know people only buy things that help solve a problem they are currently experiencing. You don’t have to “Sell” them anything… all you need to do is communicate how what you want will solve that problem. When you are able to look at situations from other people’s perspectives you will be able to IDENTIFY and UNDERSTANDtheir problems. Not only does this allow you to become more EMPATHETIC for others but it will show your exactly what areas you need to target in order to achieve the result you want.
“…BUT WHATS IN IT FOR ME?”
“IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!” – my girlfriend… all the time
If you want the things you desire you must focus on SATISFYING the other person FIRST (a bit counter intuitive, I know). How would you feel if your boss insisted on paying you at once AT THE END OF THE YEAR. No Bueno. Agreements, much like relationships, are symbiotic and goes both ways. If both sides don’t win then one side is going to end up PISSED. You need to convince them that you care about them enough to consider their well-being. Once you have done this you have established an emotional connection with that individual and they are much more likely to participate in an act called “RECIPROCITY”. This fancy word just means “You helped me so now I’ll help you”.