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How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less

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How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less

Use Rapport by Design to Become More Confident and Effective, and Make the Best of Every Business Relationship

Workman Publishing,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

A minute and a half: Sometimes that’s all you get to make an impression and, hopefully, a connection.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Some people seem to shine in every social setting, making each individual they encounter feel like the most important person in the room. For many other people, meeting strangers and trying to make a good impression can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. Corporate consultant Nicholas Boothman explains that every meeting and every interaction contains an opportunity. Learning how to maximize that opportunity is crucial to success in business and in life. Boothman teaches the skills you need to forge instant connections, from making eye contact to smiling warmly and developing a firm handshake. He delves further into areas such as appearance, conversational style, and methods of giving and receiving feedback. Although the content is fairly elementary, getAbstract recommends this engaging, chatty book to anyone who wants to learn how to work a room.

Summary

“Muldoon’s Rules”

Francis Xavier Muldoon was the dynamic, successful advertising manager of Woman magazine in the U.K. His “Gospel According to Muldoon” is a set of relationship-building guidelines that includes the principle “first impressions set the tone for success more often than class, credentials, education or what you paid for lunch.” It outlines three primary rules for social interaction:

  1. “Look people in the eye and smile” – Never underestimate the importance of eye contact. Your eyes communicate volumes before you say a word. They can signal trust, emit authority or radiate hostility. Be aware of the messages your eyes are sending. Know that a smile can open a thousand doors by conveying that you are approachable and nonthreatening.
  2. “Fit in – become a chameleon” – People are attracted to those who act and think as they do and, thus, make them feel comfortable. Instinctively, humans tend to mirror each other’s behavior. Becoming a chameleon means aligning your behaviors and attitudes with others’ actions to make a connection.
  3. “Capture the imagination and you capture the heart”

About the Author

Nicholas Boothman is the founder of the consulting company Corporate Images and author of How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less. He is also a popular speaker on connecting and building relationships.

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