How to Identify People You Do and Don't Want to do Business With

Without knowing why at a conscious level, we can at times be immediately put off by someone and on the other hand we can instantly warm to another. Why does this happen? Well usually it is at an unconscious level and that is because we are constantly sending and receiving information from people and our environment all the time.

One of the biggest “impacters” of whether we are put off or warm to someone is what body language we exhibit. Let’s look at the main signals we give off that can make people like us or not want much to do with us.

1. Eye contact
It’s important when you are talking to someone that you maintain good eye contact. There are times when you move your eyes away we sometimes do that so we aren’t seen at “staring”. For the most part, let the person know you are interested and not looking around you at who else you want to talk to.

2. Open body language
If you are aware that your body language is open to towards another they will know you are interested in them. Being aware of what your body is doing when you are talking to someone will take you a long way.

3. Facial expressions
Be aware of how you are responding to what someone says. If you are yawning, frowning, grinning when someone is telling you something this can have a huge impact on the other person. Women have far more facial expressions then men and gentlemen its worth knowing this when you are talking to women. We are looking for a positive response from the one we are talking to.

4. How they hold themselves
Is someone looking and acting confident or do they seem a little uneasy. Often our body language is a dead giveaway and is not consistent with our words if there is a conflict.

5. Personal presentation
Most people forget that people will often judge someone by how they dress and present themselves. If you want someone to take you seriously then you have to look the part. I have found the more money someone is likely to spend with you the more professional you need to look. This extends to everything about your business. Your cards, stationary, website, branding, your processes, level of expertise, articulation of what we do etc.

If you are at the receiving end of someone not giving you eye contact, showing they are not interested in you, you will be less likely to do business with them.

It would be helpful to regularly do a stocktake on every aspect of what people perceive about us. It’s also helpful to ask others how they see you and what they find frustrating about your industry. This will give you some incredible insight you can work with. Be prepared some will give you great feedback others will take it as an opportunity to criticise, so pick those you know and trust will be honest and helpful.