Goal Driven Consulting
How to connect with people
It is so rewarding to know how to connect with people. It is true that people are the most important asset. Poet and author Ralf Waldo Emerson, asserted, "Assets make things possible, people make things happen."
Connecting with people can make the difference in your leadership, in your family, in your business, in your vision, in your department or organization. Don't ever underestimate the power of connecting with people. Former American president, Theodore Roosevelt saw the value of connecting with people and he remarked, "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
Let me share with you ways that you can follow to connect with people.
- Respect people
The fundamental requirement to connect with people is that you must respect them. Solid relationships start with respect. If there is no respect, then there is no relationship or connection. You can go anywhere in the world and you will find that no one connects to someone who does not respect him or her.
Respect is about valuing people as they are, not on the basis of their abilities. You respect the fact that they are normal human beings. When people feel valued and respected by you, they will have confidence in you and they will easily connect with you.
Respect for people is not determined by someone's background, race, ethnicity, sexuality, education, achievements, affiliation, religion,culture, and nationality. But it is determined by the worth of having been made in the image of God. Respect people for who they are and they will appreciate it and get connected to you.
- Show people that you genuinely care
Show people that you genuinely care by greeting, interacting and asking them how they are doing. Ask them how their family, kids, parents or spouse are doing. When they happen to be in an emotionally charged situation like death of the loved one or any kind of lose, offer your sincere support.
People connect easily with those who genuinely show that they care. Mother Teresa said, "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."
- Make people feel important
People want to feel recognized and important. The key to making people feel important is to appreciate them both privately and publicly whenever they do something good. Appreciation makes people feel like they are contributing something of value to the family, ministry, community, team, division, department, business or organization. It makes them feel important.
People will connect with those who sincerely appreciate their diligent contribution to the good course. If you want to connect with people, make them feel important and special.
- Look for potential in people
Every person has potential. If you want to connect with people, look for potential in people. Successful people look at others with the eye to see the best that is in them. When you show people that you have identified the potential in them, they will see that you believe in their best. And they will connect with you.
When you look at people with the eye of finding potential in them, you put yourself in a situation to make a difference in their lives. Connect with people by looking for potential in them and by motivating and showing them how to bring it out.
- Smile
Smile is the most brightening thing that brightens the atmosphere. Smile beautifies life. It is very attractive. It is inviting and it brings life and happiness. When somebody genuinely smiles at you, you get connected to him or her. Smile is a powerful force that enables one to connect with people. It makes one's face shine with warmness.
Smiling at people when you communicate with them, gets them connected to you and your message. People enjoy being around people who express faith and hope in life through their smile. If you want to connect with people lighten up your face with a sincere smile.
- Learn people's names
A name to a person is his or her most important and sweetest sound. Learning people's names is the most important thing you can ever do. When you call somebody by name, he or she will feel sweet and important inside and they will get connected to you.
- Adjust the tone of your voice
The tone of your voice determines the atmosphere of your communication with people. J. A. Holmes said, "Ninety percent of the friction of daily life is caused by the wrong tone of voice."If your tone is not warm, it will be hard for people to get connected to you. When your tone is warm when you communicate a particular message to people, they will act warmly toward you.
It is very important to learn how to adjust the tone of your voice in any given situation so that you don't push people away when you must draw them closer to you. Don't ever project a wrong tone in your interactions with people. Let the tone of your voice be right at all times.
- Be a good listener
Listening is a powerful skill that enables people to connect with others. Leadership guru and author John C Maxwell said, " The ability to skillfully listen is the foundation to building positive relationships with others." Great people understand that being a good listener is the most valuable thing that leads to success in relationships.
When you listen to people with an intent to understand their message, frustrations, pain, hurt or their concern, you will get connected to them. Listening shows care and respect. Be a good listener and you will connect with people.
- Embrace empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in people's shoes. It is the ability to one's imagination to feel people's pain, to experience what they are experiencing in order to understand what they are going through. Humanity theorist Carl Rogers said, "If you want to understand people, get into their phenomenal world, experience what they are experiencing and you will know how to communicate help to them."
Empathy enables people to understand the pain, frustrations and the hurt that others are going through to an extent that they do something to help. When you are empathic, people will get connected to you because they will feel that you care and you see them as important. They will have confidence in you.
- Be humble
Humble people always have a way of connecting with people. Humility is about the ability to subordinate yourself to proper principles, values and morals. When you are humble, you are not full of yourself. Humble people put the interests and needs of other people ahead of their personal interests and needs.
Benjamine Franklin said, "If you want to lose friends quickly, start bragging about yourself; if you want to make and keep friends, start bragging about others." People get connected to those who are humble. If you want to be connected to people, humble yourself. Don't allow pride to stand on your way of establishing strong relationships with people.
Conclusion
Connecting with people is the foundation for success in building great relationships. People are of a higher value and importance. They have the potential to add value to you if you can learn how to connect with them.
Happy journey in learning how to connect with people!