"Jim," she would say, "what do you think about the increasing use of computers today?" "What's in that drink you're having tonight? Tell me about it …" commenting on what I had ordered when she took us to dinner at Trader Vic's in San Francisco.
She would have nothing of it. She immediately started asking me about my daughters and how they were doing in school. In this case, I had started the conversation aboutGeorge Bush had these skills as well, and is famous for his prolific letter writing and verbal communicating. Have a look at these letters and you see a person intent on showing interest in his subjects rather than himself.
1. Recognize and accept the fact that extreme self-centeredness is crippling, and that it can result in the failure of effective communication Admitting the problem is the beginning of the solution. Becoming an outward-facing person with genuine interest in others does not happen overnight, but there are a few key skills that will help move you in the right direction.
This research is easy to conduct online. Once the meeting starts, you can deploy the information strategically to show that you took the time to learn more about the individual prior to the meeting. You may not be the president, but you can utilize the same principles and access a good deal of data about the individuals in your meeting.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II watch part of a children's sports event while visiting Vernon Park during a Diamond Jubilee visit to Nottingham on June 13, 2012 in Nottingham, England.When I am meeting someone for the first time, I put my curiosity to work. I usually ask them where they were born and brought up.