The secret to standing out in a crowd and influencing others is to make others feel like they are the center of attention. Here are some quick tips you can apply today that will make you a success at navigating small talk and winning others attention during any meeting or event.
Travel Light
Set yourself up for success by traveling light. When you enter a room, enter with confidence and ready to greet people. If you are weigh down by computer bags, notebooks, a briefcase or even a coat, you will find it awkward and cumbersome to extend your hand, or even a simple smile of acknowledgement to the important people in the room. Arrive looking as if you belong.
Body Language
At your next office meeting or event, ask someone you trust to evaluate your body language. Do you fidget when you are nervous? How is your posture? What about your eye contact and your smile?
A few years ago, I asked my team to evaluate me in the area of body language at a conference we were hosting. Their feedback was hard but valuable. They said that when I was contemplating something, I looked disengaged and I had a frown on my face. Being disengaged from the people I was leading and hosting was NEVER my intention. Being aware of my “thinking face” was the information I needed to make a change that reflected what was in my heart.
I highly recommend Amy Cuddy’s TedTalk – Your Body language Shapes Who You Are.
As Amy Cubby says in the video: It could significantly change the way your life unfolds.
Conversation: The art of being interested not interesting
Your goal in conversation is to make the other person feel intelligent and understood while creating common bonds of interest. Try adapting the two most commonly asked questions. Instead of asking: Where are you from? OR What do you do? Ask: How do you spend most of your time? OR What do you like to do outside of XXX? (X is whatever work or event you know them in.) The secret to achieving the art of being interested and not interesting is to keep asking questions about the person’s answers. For example: If the person says they like to ski in the winter, ask them, what has been their favorite ski experience.
Use these three tips for standing out in a crowd and watch your influence grow!
For more resources on how to stand out in a crowd, I recommend, How to Talk to Anyone – 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes. You can download it free at the link I have provided or reserve an audio-ebook at your local library.
In life and leadership,
Angela Craig
PS: I would love to hear your thoughts on, The Top 3 Secrets to Standing Out in a Crowd! Please don’t hesitate to share your stories or comments below.
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Susan Husa
May 8, 2015Angela, Your picture here is lovely! Great post! Great tips for people that have. Ever navigated a crowd of people they don’t know. Over the years I must say I have been outgoing when it comes to being social. Talking to a stranger has not ever been an issue for me. After reading this I was trying to figure out why that is. And what I know is that it is because I genuinely do want to engage in conversation and hear about them. For someone that does not come natural to, you have given some great ideas. Especially as with any stress we find ourselves in, notice where the focus is. If it is on yourself then usually there will be stress involved. Genuinely focusing on others magically creates an intrigue of interest. This has been my experience. Loving your post here as it strikes a very important message for those struggling with this. I can imagine I may seem gruff at times when I am in task mode. Oh my, something for me to work on. Looking forward to viewing the video attached.
Angela L Craig
May 8, 2015Thank you Susan for such an amazing response. Since I have the gift of having you in my life, I know that all this is true about you. You give people dignity and worth by the way you recognize them. I appreciate you so much!