Are you truly listening to your clients?

I love networking! There is nothing that excites me more than to walk into a crowded room of people I have never met! So many new connections that will ultimately be molded into friendships and business contacts or both! I absolutely love listening to others. I don't mean listening as I wait for my turn to talk but truly and curiously listening. Listening for those tidbits bit of info that tells me there is a real connection happening. Listening for ways to connect that person with someone I know that will serve as a valuable connection to them. I am not sure I have ever walked away from a new person feeling like we have nothing in common or that they have no value to my network of other amazing people.

I want to know, how do you go about developing new friendships/business contacts?

What is your definition of a connection?

Are you an extrovert who loves talking or an introvert that is an amazing listener? Maybe a little of both?

Do you stalk their social media or sit down for coffee before you decide to build a relationship further? Or both?

As human beings we are wired to buy into that person... that human connection first, not a product or service that is being sold. Your Thoughts :)

So often when we are connecting with others we tend to make the conversation about ourselves. We sometimes forget to listen and instead focus on what we will say when it is our "turn" to contribute to the conversation. One of my resolutions this year is to be a better listener and with this I feel will come deeper connections. So tell me.... How do you listen, deeply and curiously listen?