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When you meet someone for the first time (face-to-face, one-on-one meeting, when you walk into a room, on-stage, on Skype, etc.) would you like to create instant trust, and respect and generate rapport?
Of course, you would. Because building trust and rapport and respect immediately increases your connectivity and connectedness with that person or with that group. And you know that when you create that connectivity, the ongoing communication and communication outcome is so much better.
What we’re talking about today is the foundation of all great communication and connection – it’s all about ‘Visible Hands’.
When you meet a person for the first time, what is or are the things that you immediately look at?
To answer this question, think back, way, way back to pre-historic days, caveman days. So what does the prehistoric caveman look at when someone is approaching?
Even today, we still notice visible hands, or not-visible hands, as the first thing we look at when seeing someone.
Obviously, in caveman days, we wanted to see whether they were carrying; a club or a spear, and whether they were a threat to us or not.
Today we still use Visible Hands as an internal guide as to whether that person’s trustworthy or not so trustworthy.
There have been lots of studies done using juries, and asking juries why they believe or don’t believe various defendants.
Juries typically tell us that if a defendant’s hands are visible and on the table, then that person is more trustworthy than a defendant who has his or her hands hidden or under the table.
Your hands will be invisible if:
It doesn’t matter whether you’re cold and you’ve got your hands tucked in your armpits because you’re cold. It doesn’t matter whether you are carrying a handbag or a computer and your hand is under the strap of the handbag or under the computer case or wrapped in your shawl.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re carrying a book and your hands are hidden by the book, or even whether you are holding a clipboard…..
In each situation, your hands are hidden and therefore, you will be regarded by the other person that you’re engaging with as less trustworthy than if you had your hands exposed.
Remember this applies everywhere:
Aside; on Skype and on Zoom and similar platforms, you can easily make a small wave or similar hand gesture – this is all that’s needed.
So, that’s the simple message for today:
If you want to build better business relationships, then make sure that you practice having ‘visible hands’.
If you have any questions for Diederik regarding the importance of visible hands – or body language in general, ask them in the Comments section below
On graduation I purchased a Veterinary clinic in Maitland, NSW and sold it in July 2009. At the time of purchase, it was a run down one person clinic with about a 90% mixed and 10% small animal component. The business grew well, so that at one stage there were 4 branches and 8 Veterinarians. At the time of sale there were 5 Veterinarians, 16 support staff functioning out of a purpose built ‘A’ class Hospital with one branch. In 2004 the practice won the Pfizer/AVA Practice of Excellence Award as well as coming 3rd in the Fujitsu Customer Service Awards. At this stage (and even slightly before), I started co-presenting at trainings and workshops and in 2007 I started developing and hosting my own workshops. In July 2009 I sold my practice so as to be able to concentrate fully on my coaching, training, speaking and workshop business – and to be able to move to Exeter (NSW) to be with my partner. I missed clinical practice, so in May 2018 I purchased a veterinary practice with the aim of building it up by providing a highly customer service friendly veterinary practice alternative to the local community. In 12m...
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Easter is a great time to connect with and educate your veterinary clients… Over the years I’ve collected some great resources to share on social media …
