Whether I’m working in organisations through my consultancy work, or sitting next to a family recently bereaved who I’m providing a funeral service for, I’m dealing with people! At those moments in time, I’m not nor should I be, the centre of discussion – It’s the people around me and their view of the world that takes centre stage.
If there were a couple of rapport building tips I could give out on a postcard – they’re based around the starting point of giving power to the other person’s world before your own.
• Be curious to listen before throwing your own views into the pot.
• Have a sense of compassion and empathy of the other world before your own.
• Begin to understand and play in the other playground, before you kick your own ball around.
Think of the last time you felt unheard, not listened to, or totally misunderstood. My guessing is that the conversation gave you little or no airspace!
Try something different today! Just stop and press the pause button with those conversations you have over the next 24 hours! Give a little more time and energy into understanding the other viewpoint and story – and then see how much richer and more powerful those conversations become for you.
I'm an award winning, professional Civil Celebrant who designs warm and imaginative non-religious & part-religious ceremonies: from Weddings to Funerals, and Baby Namings to Vow Renewals.....and I'm just as proud and attentive of my next ceremony as I was when I did my very first!
