Fostering Relationships: Perception and the Person

In developing your personal network and in your dealings with perfect strangers, remember this phrase...

"If you can't get past the perception, you will never get to the real person."

This phrase reminds us that in most cases there is great divide between the perception you have of someone you first meet and the actual person. Effective leaders who are great at fostering relationships develop a healthy interpersonal pattern of getting through the perception quickly and learning about and connecting with the real person. Some quick tips for doing that...

1. Ask questions and listen (demonstrate interest and respect)
2. Paraphrase their comments (language barriers equates to trust barriers)
3. Seek first to understand and then to be understood (put your interests second and the relationship's interests first)
4. Smile and just be friendly (puts you and them at ease)

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