Why should I trust you?

Welcome back to the Body Talk Brief, where we will provide biweekly tips on the science of communication and what you can do to strengthen your communication skills.

If you’re just joining us, you can learn more about Body Talk and what we can do for you here . We just revamped our website! Check it out!

Body Talk is the global leader in evidence-based training on the psychology of communication.?

We deliver communication courses, coaching, virtual learning and live events with our clients worldwide, with over 120,000 people trained from 46 countries over the last 22 years!

And great news! Our CEO and Founder, Richard Newman, has a new book!

You can order Lift Your Impact, here in the UK and here in the US !

For bulk orders contact our team !

If you’re an animal person, you know exactly what to do when meeting a new pet. Sometimes a friendly dog will run right up to you, but more often than not, the first interaction for a successful relationship with an animal is offering them your hand so they can smell you. This gives the animal an opportunity to decide whether or not they would like to proceed from there, and more importantly, establishes trust.

In business communication, your audience is not full of animals, but the principle remains the same. People need to establish trust before they can confidently proceed with any kind of interaction with you, and you have the power to ensure that trust is established early so everyone can focus on what really matters: your message.?

Establish credibility

Early on in your interactions, let people know why you’re the person for the job. This may mean an actual job in an interview or the figurative role of a mentor in a difficult conversation. Why are you qualified to deliver the message you’re sharing?

Be sure that you tailor your message and what makes you credible to your audience. In a job interview, you don’t need to repeat what’s on your CV, but you could expand a bit on why it applies to this specific position.?

And remember—credibility is a mix of emotion and logic. Let your listeners know that you care, and they will be more likely to care, too, making your message memorable and effective.

Bridge to the world of your audience

Find common ground between yourself and your listeners, letting them know that you care about the same things.

This is particularly useful when you feel that different levels of status are at play. Status takes a step back when we’re working toward shared goals.?

It can help to share a bit of personal context. What is really driving you toward your goal??

And if you’re worried about showing off, eat a bit of humble pie, and express gratitude for your audience!

Look at your body language

Be sure that your body language is congruent with your message. If you are physically closed off, your audience will not be confident that they can trust you. Maintain a grounded posture and use physical gestures that communicate openness.?

Body Talk has lots of great courses that can help you along the way!

Want to learn more?

Thank you for joining us for another edition of the Body Talk Brief.

Check out our ultimate guide to Advanced Presentation Skills for a more thorough introduction to what we do and tangible advice on how to apply Body Talk to your life. And as always, you can contact us here or email us at [email protected] .?

Can we help with your communication skills training? We run fun and interactive courses, workshops and masterclasses to increase your team’s confidence, influence and authority. Check them out here .

Don’t forget you can order Lift Your Impact by Richard Newman here in the UK and here in the US! Bulk purchases can be made here .?

Be sure to subscribe for more biweekly top tips on the science of communication!