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PROGRAM D-6826
In my book, How To Thrive from 9 to 5, I have a chapter on the Five Basic People Skills. Here’s the first basic people skill.
• Give people your attention.
People feel special when we give them our undivided attention. Here are some things you can do:
Eliminate distractions
It’s difficult to give your undivided attention to a person when there are distractions.
Don’t try to do two things at once. When you’re talking to someone, stop your other activities. Then, try to eliminate the distractions around you, such as loud music or noise, when interferes with communication.
Call people by name
This is so easy to do and it really makes a person feel very special when called by name. Don’t trust your memory—write the name down when you can. Then use it several times.
When you meet someone who has a name tag on, such as a waiter or clerk in the store, call that person by name. When someone on the other end of the telephone gives you his or her name, call them by name at once. Develop an awareness of names and use them often. It’s such a simple thing to do, and it is a very powerful people skill.
Give verbal and non-verbal cues
Show that you are listening, and therefore giving your attention, by sending listening cues. In person that includes eye contact and facial expressions. On the telephone, those cues will have to be verbal—an occasional “Yes” or “I see” or something similar to indicate you are listening and haven’t hung up!
Listen better
Don’t talk about yourself so much. Let others talk about themselves and simply listen with interest. There are very few good listeners in the world, and it’s one of the most important people skills.
So, this is people skill number one: Give people around you your attention. This is a very practical thing you can do this very day. You will be amazed at the difference this simple skill will make in your ability to get along with people.