How To Connect Well With Others

Use NLP and Dale Carnegie’s teachings to build relationships and rapport.

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash

Building strong, meaningful relationships is an essential part of personal and professional success. However, connecting with others isn’t always as easy as it sounds, especially if you tend to be more introverted like me.

However, if you want to improve your social skills, gain influence, or simply have better conversations, 9 key principles can help you connect more effectively.

Some of the principles I will discuss below, I learned in my Neurolinguistic Programming and Non-Violent Communication studies, and some of the principles can be found in Dale Carnegie’s classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People (although not all are mentioned).

These principles are timeless guidelines for building rapport, trust, and understanding with others.

1. Don’t Criticize, Condemn, or Complain

Criticizing, condemning, or complaining about others can damage relationships and create defensiveness. Instead of pointing out flaws or faults, try focusing on positive actions and encouraging improvement. Criticism rarely inspires change; it often breeds resentment.

Instead: Offer feedback in a way that’s constructive, and always look for the positive…