Ensure that a conversation with a new connection is not just a dull exchange of work experiences. I invest in the power of showing genuine interest and asking questions.
It all starts with those first fifteen minutes.
Instead of immediately talking about yourself or, worse, diving into a sales pitch, I let the other person do the talking. People love to talk about themselves, so why not take advantage of that opportunity?
Imagine you’re at a networking event. You meet someone and you’re curious about who they are. You start by asking questions and listening. Don’t jump in and steer the conversation towards yourself. So no “How can I make this about me?” 😉 That’s the attitude you should have for the first 15 minutes of your call.
15 minutes might seem long, but it’s not! You can set your clock to it and usually get the question back: “And you, what do you do?” NOTE, wait a bit longer and use this technique: 👀… Before I start talking about myself, I ask: “Is there anything else I should know about you?” It’s amazing how almost always more comes up, and often these are the crucial insights I needed! Why does this work so well? Because people feel valued when they sense they are truly being listened to.
Then you have 2 or 3, max 5 minutes to tell your story and you can certainly mention what you do and your added value. Explain everything from your story and vision and keep it as brief as possible!
With a 30-minute call, you still have 10 minutes left to make the connection. How you can approach that, I explain in our YouLynq.me Academy.
So next time you start a conversation on LinkedIn, remember:
Only ask questions for the first 15 minutes. The rest will follow naturally!
