Making People Like You in 90 Seconds

10/08/2004

Making People Like You in 90 Seconds

"It is better to wear out than to rust out." - Richard Cumberland

Making People Like You in 90 Seconds

People decide if they like you within two seconds of meeting you, reports Nicholas Boothman in his book, How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less (www.nicholasboothman.com). He also provides some suggestions on how to make a good first impression...

* Smile. If you're worried that your smile doesn't look natural, try standing in front of a mirror and saying the word "great" in many funny voices. This will almost certainly make you smile. The next time you meet someone think "great." A natural smile will form.

* Use "open" body language. Keep your arms uncrossed and hands unclenched. If you are unsure of what to do with your hands, put them in your back pockets or at your sides. Point your heart toward the heart of hte other person.

* Ask open ended questions. Who, what, where, when, why and how questions are conversation starters. Questions beginning with Have you?... Are you? and Do you? are conversation killers. They can be answered with one word -- yes or no.

* Relax. A Princeton University study found that trying too hard to be liked is a big turnoff in first encounters. Before meeting someone, take a few deep abdominal breaths to relax. When you are nervous, you take shallow breaths. This makes your voice high-pitched and shaky. Deep breaths make your voice richer amd more confident.

For ideas on how your center can make a good impression on potential customers, check out the Exchange Articles on CD collection, Julie Wassom on Marketing. Starting today, this collection and all other Articles on CD collections will be on sale at a 25% discount. To check out these savings, go to http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0426.

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