Ever noticed that some people seem to hurry you up whilst others seem to slow you down? What are they doing to convey this impression? Why do you want them to speed up or slow down? It is your natural pace. We all have a natural pace of speaking. It is not how fast we think. It is how fast we speak. Your natural pace will suit some people and not others. The ideal pace for others is their pace. You will relate to them more easily if you deliberately imitate their pace. Rather than wanting them to change their pace to suit you, change your’s to suit them. Pacing is a subtle influencing skill. It helps in all communications – influencing, selling, negotiating and presenting on your feet.
Practise each day with a different person. Listen to their pace and copy it however fast or slow. They don’t think they are fast or slow. They think they are normal.
So unless you want to unconsciously hurry people up or slow them down, imitate their pace of delivery. You will seem to be like them because you are.
Contact me if you want to improve your Influencing Skills.
www.paddyspruce.com.au
