At some point, we all need to shmooze someone and get them to like us fast, whether it’s on a job interview, to garner votes while running for president of our local P.T.A. or during a dreaded first meeting with the future in-laws. Luckily, there’s an easy way to create an instant connection: mimic the other person, for instance, talk at the same speed, hold your hands the same way or stand the way they stand—without making it look too obvious, naturally. A recent study out of Nijmegen University in the Netherlands shows the other person will be up to three times more likely to be friendly and generous toward you than if you didn’t mimic her or his movements. The proof it works: Waitresses who tried this technique in a separate study got fatter tips from customers! Why it works? Mimicking sends the subconscious message that you’re just like the people you’re copying, which puts them at ease, the researchers explain.
[photo: Rover_JP]
