| By :
Andy Grant
No matter what topic you're speaking about, one of the easiest ways to win over your audience is to create rapport. Think this is tough in an unknown crowd? It's easier than you think with these simple tips for "instant rapport." 1. Eye Contact: Be Specific It's not enough to just "look up" as often as you can. Whenever possible, maintain eye contact for a full second or two with an individual person at a time - not the room in general. Hold that eye contact for a second longer when you're in the middle of making a key point. 2. Make Individual Connections If at all possible, meet at least a few of the group members before you begin your presentation. This might require arriving at the room or auditorium early to have some small talk, or perhaps getting to know folks at a luncheon or dinner prior to your presentation. It's easy to say, "I was talking with Bob before I came up here, and I learned something interesting about this company..." It not only makes Bob feel important, but it invites other group members to connect with you after your presentation, or during Q&A. 3. Refer to Corporate (group) Culture Where Appropriate Certainly you wouldn't want to mention a nickname the employees call the boss behind his back, but you would want to mention quirky expressions or group traditions that everyone in the group can relate to. Group members appreciate that you took the time to get to know their culture when you integrate these expressions into your talk. 4. Be Passionate and Enthusiastic When you demonstrate passion and enthusiasm in your speaking, your audience can't help but become engaged. If you're forced to present on a topic that you can't get passionate about, relate it to something you can. For example, if you have to speak about tax codes, which doesn't interest you, but you adore your children, then find a way to integrate personal stories that are either funny or interesting into your presentation. 5. Smile There's an expression that says "a smile is the shortest distance between two people" and it's true. Never fake a smile - instead, simply find something worth smiling about and share your smile with others to create instant rapport. When you incorporate these few simple steps, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can win your audience over and create instant rapport.
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