Dream professional situations (jobs, businesses, reputations, connections) are built on trust.
The most bulletproof kind of trust is built over months or years, but it can actually be jump-started in 10 seconds.
Observe a person who makes chill eye contact with strangers in the coffee line. Instead of averting gaze, acknowledges people in the room. Compliments someone’s glasses. Asks about their watch. Cracks a joke.
Within moments they’re talking about something meaningful. Friends are discovered in common. Books are recommended. Sincerity is conveyed in both directions. Vulnerability and confidence are charmingly blended.
Defaulting to the assumption that those around you are worth knowing, and would want to know you… this triggers behaviors that shortcut you to a certain level of trust.
Now apply that behavior to higher-stakes scenarios where trust is required:
Meeting a potential client. Mingling in rooms of intimidating people. Walking into a job interview.
High caliber candidates can find something in common with anyone, and thus earn trust in the first 5 minutes of an interview. That leaves 30 minutes to clinch the job, and another 25 to shoot the breeze.
Some might argue that these people win because they’re “extroverts”.
We can call them whatever we want, but they’ve adopted a behavior that is continuously expanding their universe of opportunity.
Plus they’re having fun.
