Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been reading and rereading Jeffery Gitomer’s The Little Black Book of Connections. On page 70 and 71, Mr. Gitomer provides some of the best advice I’ve ever seen on becoming interpersonally competent. He calls it building rich relationships. Whatever you call it, use this advice.
Read on for Jeffery Gitomer’s (slightly edited by me) advice on becoming interpersonally competent…
Building Rich Relationships -- the Jeffery Gitomer Way
Give value: You strengthen relationships by giving value to them – not facts about you. Get leads for other people, or put them in front of contacts that might help them.
Tell truths: You build relationships by telling the truth even if it hurts or embarrasses you.
Beat goals: Have an achievable plan. Win big. Self confidence is attractive. Other people are attracted to it.
Know Knowledge: Have as much knowledge about the other person as you do about yourself.
Have answers: Be a resource. Get to the point where other people consider you a resource for information rather than just another acquaintance.
Tell stories: Stories help people relate. Tell a story, and people tend to tell you one back. Stories are personal. Stories are revealing. Stories are truth.
Tell how: Tell how you have done things with other people. Tell how you will do things with this person.
Find links: Part of the relationship building secret is to break the ice. Find something in common – a link that ties you to the other person. Gathering personal information about another person prior to meeting him or her let’s you know where to start.
Use links: Find information that helps the other person. Surprise them with it.
Get personal: Use personal information in a creative, discrete and sincere way.
Be there: Earn you time in front of the other person by providing them with valuable information.
Be friends: Perform acts of friendship for the other person. Have fun with them.
Remember, rich relationships are the basis of interpersonal competence. Learn, internalize and use Jeffery Gitomer’s advice on building rich relationships and you’ll be on your way to becoming a super star in your life and career.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my other blogs: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a business, and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action; and my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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