How to Talk to Anyone Book Summary Preview

How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Lois Lowndes

Do you want to be a better communicator? In her book, Lois Lowndes uses her years of research to teach others how to become a more effective communicator.

First impressions are essential. Make sure you make a good one. Smile when you meet people. Don't fake it. Let the grin grow slowly. Women in corporate environments who smile more slowly are seen as more credible. When you're meeting different people, it's essential to change your smile for each person.

Making eye contact shows respect and attention. Maintain eye contact even when you stop talking to the person.

Proper body language is essential. When meeting people for the first time, do so as if they were an old friend. Turn your body towards them. Don't fidget; control your hand gestures. Avoid touching your face because that makes you look less credible. Keep calm.

Smooth introductions make for great conversations. If you want to get to talk to someone, you can get an introduction from a mutual friend or the host or the party. Or you can hover near the stranger, listening in, and jump in when appropriate. An ice breaker is an excellent way to start a conversation. Another option is for the host to introduce each person with an interesting fact about each person to make it easy to make conversation. Once you start a conversation, pay close attention to each other's speaking and actions. Match the mood and tone. If the tone is laid back, be laid back. Always remember: Don't be afraid! Be positive! You can do it!

You'll find that small talk is essential to winning someone over. When someone asks you where you went to college, don't give one-word answers. Elaborate. In fact, you should end with an interesting fact that introduces another topic. Be a good listener. An excellent way to have a good conversation is to let the other person talk. If you know someone in the group has a good story, let them talk. They will appreciate you! Also, be careful about what you say. Don't get too personal or reveal secrets. Stay on topic.

People like people who are like them. When talking to someone, try to emphasize what you have in common. Imitate their words and phrases. Drop the "ums" and use emphasizers to show them that you understand them. For example, instead of "um," say something like, "That seems right." Also, use the words "we" and "us" to strengthen the bonds you are forming.

Praising someone might backfire if the person feels that it is insincere. To avoid that, go through a mutual acquaintance to praise them indirectly. If you are going to praise that person, be specific and immediate. Praise them as soon as they do the thing. Make sure the praise is genuine.

Be considerate of others. Sometimes people want to vent and talk about their problems. Let them do so and be thoughtful. Make sure to properly end all conversations....

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