Relationship-building and trust

Building a business or a personal relationship takes consistency and trust. Consider these situations: A recruiter promises a sought-after candidate that people at fast-growing Company X have frequent opportunities for advancement Before signing anything, the candidate finds a current employee online and discovers that few insiders get considered for these new openings. The candidate no longer trusts anything else the recruiter tells him. A new customer of a car dealership buys a vehicle with an extended warranty. The dealership makes an error in servicing the vehicle, and the vehicle now needs expensive repairs. The dealership does it for free, as promised, and works hard to regain the customer's trust. Someone on a dating site misrepresents himself in his personal description, and a potential date discovers this. She now distrusts him, and refuses further communication with him. Consistency builds trust, and in the beginning of a business or personal relationship, trust is crucial. If trust is broken, the relationship is very hard to repair. Sometimes the person who erred can apologize and explain the situation, but often it takes considerable work over an extended period of time. In a new relationship, it often is not worth the effort by at least one of the parties. Promise only what you are sure you can deliver. Consistency is a key to trust. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including communication skills for leadership development.

Tips on how to stop interrupting others In the Presidential Debate last night, both candidates were interrupting others. While they probably did it out of frustration and to get their whole message before viewers in prime time, it created a negative backlash. Viewers found the interruptions to be disrespectful of each other. One viewer wondered if the debaters would also interrupt officials from other countries, for example. People with hearing loss often have trouble understanding two conversations occurring at once. Even those with normal hearing struggled at these times. In normal conversations, without the glare of television cameras and the lure of a huge audience, interrupting is still impolite. If you interrupt because you are worried you will forget what you are going to say, write down a few words about it. If you have no smart phone app for this, or pen and paper, use your finger to write the word on your thigh. This tactile feedback may help you remember what you wanted to say. Second, focus on what the other person is saying, not on your message. Wait 3 seconds after he stops speaking before you respond. This is especially helpful when on the telephone, where there is no visual image that could cue you the other person is about to speak again. Consider responding in writing, with an e-mail, text or letter, instead of in person. This gives you time to think about your message carefully. It may also allow the other person to feel like you really heard what he said. If you do interrupt by accident, apologize. Over time, you should make this error less and less. Business Speech Improvement provides communication skills coaching and e-books. Check out the options today!

Connecting with Strangers

Are you uncomfortable meeting strangers? If so, you have plenty of company!
If you go to a meeting, party, convention, new house of worship, or other event where you need to make connections, try some of these tips from my e-book, Small Talk:Connecting with Others
(www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com). First, look approachable. Be well-groomed, smile and show good posture. Look around for others who are alone and seeking someone with whom to talk. Make eye contact and smile. If the other person does the same, go over to him or her. When you get there, use the tips in Small Talk: Connecting with Others to start a conversation!