Book Report – How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

In the book How to Talk to Anyone, author Leil Lowndes, explains how the most successful people always seem to have the right thing to say to everyone. This book points out 92 little “tricks” to keep the communication flowing while captivating the attention and interest of every single person we meet.

It is important to keep in mind that movements and appearance make up more than 80 percent of someone’s first impression right before one word is ever spoken. To make a great impression in the first 10 seconds be aware of posture, keep your head up, have a confident attitude and smile.

Here are some of the guidelines or “tricks” that I believe would help us as a team:

1. The Big-Baby Pivot: Give warm smiles, turn your body to face the person you are talking to, and give your total attention when welcoming or meeting others.

2. Make a Mood Match: Always match the mood and tone of voice of the person you are talking to. Before delivering what you have to say, keep an eye on how people are reacting to you.

3. Never the Naked Answer: Techniques 15-17 explains how important is to elaborate in our answers. Never give a one word answer. For example, if someone asked where you are from, give some special details of your hometown. Explain the kind of work that you do instead of just saying the titles “engineer”, “teacher”, “lawyer”. Leave room to elaborate.

4. Accentuate the Positive: Keep a very positive conversation when you meet someone for the first time. Every time we say something negative to a person that we just met, that is what they will remember us by

5. Implied Magnificence: If you notice something positive with the person you are meeting, always mention it in your conversation. Let people know you are paying attention and that you value them.

6. Chance Encounters are for Chitchat & Dinner’s for Dining: Only discuss ideas during dinners and encounters, but not discuss hard/serious business. Be aware of your surroundings. Show others you know the primary reason or the interaction.

7. Lend a Helping Phrase: When someone get lost for words, help the other person by saying words or phrases that will encourage them to move on with their story or what they have to say. You can use phrases similar to “so what happened after you” or “sorry for the interruption, please get back to your story”

There are other details that we should take in consideration in order to communicate with virtually anyone. When we engage in “small talk” is not about facts, but rather it is meant to put people at ease. As long as we are sympathetic to each other, almost everything you say in small talk is acceptable.

Finally, be aware of the importance of open communication with everyone around you. We do not want to give the impression that we only talk to “important people”. Sometimes by choosing to whom we talk, we are broadcasting the misrepresentation that “other people are beneath me, I’m not wasting my time”. By closing our mouths, we might be closing doors.

NOTE: Oliver Law Firm has a reading program and an office library full of many great books. Our mission is to inspire, train, and mentor our work family to improve ourselves and client services.

Oliver Law Firm, 3606 W. Southern Hills Blvd., Rogers, AR 72758.