HUELLA VERDE

WORK Solution
Visit artofpeople
book.com and take
the quiz to find
out how your people
skills stack up.
How can you make a good
impression while networking?
“If you want to be memorable,
don’t spend a lot of time on small
talk. Ask meaningful questions
right off the bat, something like,
‘What projects are you working on
that you’re most passionate about
right now?’ Not only will you differentiate
yourself from everyone
else, but you’ll get the person talking
about things she cares about.
Another great question, and one
that’s not often asked sincerely:
‘How can I help you?’”
Lend an Ear
Entrepreneur Dave Kerpen
divulges what it really means
to be a people person.
What’s the first step to improving
your people skills?
“Self-awareness,” says Kerpen,
author of The Art of People: 11 Simple
People Skills That Will Get You
Everything You Want. “A lot of people
jump in and try to understand
others when they haven’t really
done the work themselves. What
are your own strengths and weaknesses,
and how can you improve?
You have to understand yourself if
you hope to influence others.”
What other tips do you have for
creating positive interactions?
“Sometimes you’ll get your way
and sometimes you won’t. While
you can’t control the outcome,
you can control your attitude.
Choose positivity. Choose gratitude.
As a leader, you want people
to want to be around you, and
enthusiasm is contagious. Secondly,
follow what I call the Platinum
Rule: Do unto others as they
would have done unto themselves.
In other words, really put yourself
second and walk in the other person’s
shoes before taking action.”
Any final words of wisdom?
“Most of us think we’re better
listeners than we actually are, but
there’s a huge difference between
truly listening and just waiting
for your turn to talk. If you’re
listening, you’re not formulating
what to say next. Ultimately, people
just want to be heard, so open
your ears—you might just connect
with someone.”
46 southwest july 2016
ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHAN SCHMITZ/FOLIO ART