I feel like I’ve known you my whole life…

Ever had someone say that to you? I have, and the last time it happened I was on a two hour flight with someone I didn’t know. I felt like talking and the person seemed interesting enough. The more I talked to them the more interesting I found them…so I just kept asking questions. Questions about where they were from, what they did for work, family, hobbies, relationships, home, vacations and a few other topics.

I found myself digging a little deeper on each topic and asking “interested type” questions. Mostly because I was interested, it was almost like I was writing a book about that person and the more I asked the more they unfolded and the more interested I became. When we got off the plane I said “I enjoyed talking to you and getting to know you, have a great week” and they said “It seems like I’ve known you my whole life.”

When I told my ride about that conversation they said; why do you think they felt that way and I said I know why. Because I have known them their whole life and the reason is….we only talked about them and their life, nothing about me. I was asking them questions and talking to them about things that they were totally comfortable with, things that they knew everything about, things they knew all the answers too. I focused on them and talking about them, not me.

What’s the point of the story? If you want people to feel comfortable with you, start out talking about them, not yourself. If they ask you about you later on that’s fine but don’t lead with you. People do business with people they feel comfortable with, people that they feel like they know. Make it happen!

© 2008 eMarketing 4 Business LLC