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- Feb 26, 2014
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As a certified introvert, I find it difficult to be open with others to this day, despite having many reps. It takes a lot of self-defiance to ignore my natural tendency to avoid others. But every time you allow yourself to exist in others' lives you allow the potential for friendship, it doesn't have to be formulaic or methodical. I have one friend who I talk about business with often that I met at a Memorial Day BBQ.
I too am like 404profound. I am introverted and tend to have a hard time opening up.
Here's a suggestion:
Don't open up.
I'm also an introvert but, after learning selling, I discovered that as long as I get people talking about themselves, I do fine.
A simple "trick" that I learned from Stan Billue was to use a continuation phrase when asking a question. For example, if I ask "so what do you do?" and they answer "Oh, I'm in the health industry", I can always follow up with "Interesting, tell me more" or "please continue".
When you ask basic questions (which, most of the times, are necessary) people give default, short answers. A continuation phrase makes them open up and can get the conversation going.