Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It Happened Again! Guest Blogger Lin Klaassen Offers Some Advice

I’m not kidding when I say it happened again at another networking event that I was at a few days ago. Not once, not twice but three times. I was engaged in three different conversations and was rudely interrupted mid-sentence each time by a different person. And during two of the interruptions, I was ignored like I was invisible, while the interruptee talked only to the other person. C’mon people. . . .

Who better to give us some insight into how to solve this apparently common problem than guest blogger, Lin Klaassen, of Face Reading by Lin. She offers some suggestions on how to politely approach two people that are engaged in conversation by observing their face and body language.

“You should begin to approach slowly until you are in their peripheral vision and watch to read their reactions. Most people will instinctively turn towards you and most people read this as an invitation to approach. WRONG. They are only being polite.

Look to the feet for the truth. The face is the most expressive part of the body and the least honest. As we go through life, we train ourselves to respond in a socially acceptable manner, which is often far from how we are truly feeling. The feet are wired in our instinctual survival patterns and are the most honest part of the human body.

Both people have now turned a foot towards you. This is a signal that they are both comfortable with you joining them.

Always look at the feet of both people. If only one person has turned a foot towards you, do not approach. The person who has not turned a foot towards you will resent you approaching.

Just smile and keep walking. As the event continues, watch for them to go their separate ways or create an opportunity to walk by again and gauge your welcome at that time. Often, if they are winding down, they may both be ready for you to approach.”

For more fascinating face reading observations and workshops, visit Lin’s website at www.facereadingbylin.com. You can also hear my interview with Lin at http://tinyurl.com/d4njnfx