How to Engage with People Who are Not Like You
5 Strategies You Can Use to Connect Better with Anyone You Meet
Your ability to engage with people who are not like you will enable you to have interesting conversations and learn new things.
Everyone has different values and beliefs and may not see the world as you do. This means your ability to connect with others will help you get to know people who have diverse experiences and opinions.
To engage with someone means to relate with them, while staying open to what may arise during a conversation.
Why is it Valuable to Engage with People Who are Not Like You?
When you know how to engage with people who are not like you, the benefits include:
- You will understand what drives or motivates them.
- You will develop meaningful relationships.
- You will expand your network.
- You will notice opportunities.
- You will learn more about yourself.
Risks if You Do Not Engage with People Who are Not Like You
People are usually more comfortable with those who are like them. If you do not engage with people who are not like you, the risks include:
- You won’t improve your communication skills.
- You won’t know how to adapt in unfamiliar situations.
- You won’t develop the ability to see things from other people’s perspective.
- You won’t relate well with others and may become hard to deal with.
- You won’t enjoy life as much.
When you can engage with people from all walks of life, you will have rich and purposeful conversations, which will allow you to connect better with them.
5 Strategies You Can Use to Engage with People Who are Not Like You
The better you engage with others, the easier it will be to have worthwhile conversations. Here are five strategies you can use to connect better with anyone you meet, so you can learn more about them and yourself.
- Ask questions to get them to talk about themselves. Ask open-ended and reflective questions. Your aim is to make them think more about what they are saying, which can lead to other topics you can talk about.
- Actively listen to better understand how they see the world. Everyone has a filter through which they see and experience the world. During a conversation, stay present and make eye contact. Have the intention of understanding their beliefs and what makes them tick.
- Mirror and match their body language. Non-verbal communication is more important than the words you say. Pay close attention to your body language, which you want to be open and friendly. Another technique is to mirror how they use their body. For example, if they make a gesture, you do it too. The key is to not make it obvious you are doing it.
- Give them a compliment. People love praises or compliments. During a conversation, if they say something that is worth acknowledging, let them know. When a person hears others say positive things about them, it strengthens the connection they have.
- Share something you are struggling with that is relevant to the conversation. People connect better with those who share their weaknesses or struggles. When you share something you are struggling with that’s relevant to the conversation, it will make you more relatable. That will help build a higher level of trust with the person.
Final Thoughts
To increase your ability to form new relationships, you need to learn how to engage with people not like you. Those who know how to engage with others, better understand what drives people, which will help them create relationships they want.
As you engage better with others, you will be more present and mindful of what others are going through and how you can support them to get what they want.
Action Step: During your next conversation with someone you meet for the first time or someone you consider different, practice asking questions to get them to talk more about themselves. Pay attention to what they say and how you respond. Use it as an opportunity to learn something about them and yourself.
Question: What are other ways to engage with people who are not like you?
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