How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

by Leil Lowndes

The study showed women who were slower to smile in corporate life were perceived as more credible.’

The flooding smile Don’t flash an immediate smile when you greet someone, as though anyone who walked into your line of sight would be the beneficiary. Instead, look at the other person’s face for a second. Pause. Soak in their persona. Then let a big, warm, responsive smile flood over your face and overflow into your eyes. It will engulf the recipient like a warm wave. The split-second delay convinces people your flooding smile is genuine and only for them.

The flooding smile

In addition to awakening feelings of respect and affection, maintaining strong eye contact gives you the impression of being an intelligent and abstract thinker.

‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care … about them.’

‘No man would listen to you talk if he didn’t know it was his turn next.’

Recently I attended a posh party on Easy Street. (I suspect they invited me as their token working-class person.) I noticed no one was asking anyone what they did – because these swells didn’t do anything.