Special Guest post: Five Ways to get people to like you in less than 30 seconds

        

                          
                              

Studies have shown that it only takes two seconds for people to decide if they like you. This instinctive response is the result of millions of years of evolution, when early humans had to decide if they were about to make a new friend or become lunch. These days, this instinct influences our personal and business relationships. Every decision from what make of car to buy, to signing contracts is influenced by how much people like and trust each other. So here are five tips to get people to like you in less than 30 seconds. Smile. This might seem obvious, but next time you're at a trade show or conference, look around at people speaking to each other. Are they smiling or serious? For most people, smiling is not a natural state. Some people also think looking professional means being serious. The truth is, even a slight, warm smile makes you approachable and likeable.   Make eye contact. Maintaining eye contact means you are trustworthy and have nothing to hide. Be sure to keep it natural. Avoid getting into a staring contest. The most important time to maintain eye contact is when the other person is speaking, demonstrating genuine interest. Also make eye contact when stating key points or voicing your opinion.   Reflect. Be aware of the other person's posture. Matching your posture to theirs will subconsciously keep them at ease and make you appear agreeable and receptive. If they stand with their hands in their pockets, do the same. If they sit straight at the edge of their chair, so should you. Again, keep it natural.   Take interest. People love talking about themselves. So let them. Not only will this make them feel more comfortable with you, it will also give you clues about what's important to them and how they think. Open ended questions can help influence the direction of the conversation and help you learn more about the other person.   Be appreciative. Everybody is busy. Thank them for their time. Thank them for sharing their ideas and opinions. And thank them for choosing to do business with you. People want to feel

________________________________________________________________________________ About Marc Gordon Marc Gordon is a recognized marketing expert, speaker and strategist. His articles appear in over 200 publications worldwide.  Marc Gordon c/o Fourword Marketing Tel: (416) 238-7811 Visit marcgordon.ca or fourword.biz for more information. Watch the newest episode of marctv.

Five ways to manage your life and business during the holidays

With the holiday season upon us, many business owners struggle between making time for their family while giving their business the attention it needs. The fact is that in most cases, it's the business that wins. Here's five tips to help you focus more on yourself and your family without stressing about the business. Plan ahead. Notify customers, suppliers and anyone else who might need to reach you that you'll be working reduced hours or will be away between certain dates. Set up an auto response email and update your voicemail greeting accordingly.   Limit your "response time". Set aside a period of time each day to check and respond to email and voicemail. Try to keep responses to a minimum. It's okay to acknowledge a customer's inquiry. Just be sure to let them know you're on holiday and will look into it upon your return.   Reflect. Being away from the office can give you the time and energy to focus and plan for the year ahead. Think about what changes you would like to make, create new goals and plan your strategy.   Don't worry. You're not going to lose any business because you choose to take a holiday. And any customer that threatens to leave you because you are is a customer you don't want.   Never apologize. You have just as much right to take a holiday as anyone else. That's one of the perks of being the boss. Never apologize or feel bad for doing so. You've earned it! Happy Holidays and be sure to look for your next High 5 article in your inbox January 5th.  Cheers, Marc Gordon marcgordon.ca ________________________________________________________________________________ About Marc Gordon Marc Gordon is a marketing expert and professional speaker.  His articles have appeared in over 100 publications, journals, and blogs throughout North America. His online show, marctv, has been rated one of the top 25 B2B video blogs on the web.   Marc Gordon c/o Fourword Marketing Tel: (416) 238-7811 Visit marcgordon.ca or fourword.biz for more information. Watch the newest episode of marctv.