Find common ground: Discover shared interests or experiences to form connections and keep the conversation going. You want to learn some strategies that will help you stay calm while successfully negotiating with others or resolving an argument.

When you meet someone, imagine a giant revolving spotlight between you. When you’re talking, the spotlight is on you. When the new person speaks, it’s shining on them. The longer you keep it shining away from you, the more attractive they find you. 11. Parroting

Potent Imaging – Does your customer have a garden? Talk about “sowing the seeds for success.” Does your boss own a boat? Tell him or her about a concept that will “hold water” or “stay afloat.” Maybe he is a private pilot? Talk about a concept really “taking off.” She plays tennis? Tell her it really hits the “sweet spot.” Evoke your listener’s interests or lifestyle and weave images around it. To give your points more power and punch, use analogies from your listener’s world, not your own. Potent Imaging also tells your listeners you think like them and hints you share their interests. The language is a bit old (the book was published in 1981), but the strategies are great. It isn’t super-elaborate on the techniques but is more about giving you a broad understanding. It’s heavily research-based. Sometimes, at the beginning of the chapters, you think, “This is way too obvious” but then the author gives a new take on what you thought you knew. Some other concepts the book discusses include: making a positive first impression, mastering nonverbal communication, and building lasting connections with people through effective conversational tactics. Lowndes suggests always wearing or carrying something slightly unusual. Possessing these objects will immediately draw other people’s attention towards you. Try to also make small talk by commenting on other people’s attire. Do not capitalize on a chance meeting if you’re selling, negotiating, or in any sensitive communication with someone. Instead, keep the melody of your mistaken session sweet and light. Otherwise, it could turn into your swan song with a big winner. 44. Empty their tanks

The Big-Baby Pivot – Give everyone you meet The Big-Baby Pivot. The instant the two of you are introduced, reward your new acquaintance. Give the warm smile, the total-body turn, and the undivided attention you would give a tiny tyke who crawled up to your feet, turned a precious face up to yours, and beamed a big toothless grin. Pivoting 100 percent toward the new person shouts “I think you are very, very special.” Never the Naked Introduction – When introducing people, don’t throw out an unbaited hook and stand there grinning like a big clam, leaving the newlymets to flutter their fins and fish for a topic. Bait the conversational hook to get them in the swim of things. Then you’re free to stay or float on to the next networking opportunity. Before throwing out any news, keep your receiver in mind. Then deliver it with a smile, a sigh, or a sob. Not according to how you feel about the news but how the receiver will take it. 20. The broken record An innocent joke may get you a cheap laugh at someone else’s expense. Never, ever make a joke at anyone else’s expense. You’ll wind up paying for it dearly. 19. It’s the receiver ball.

Posture: Observe the speaker's posture. A slouched posture may indicate disinterest or fatigue, while an upright posture can suggest confidence or engagement. This book is an in-depth guide to handling difficult conversations in your personal and professional life. The authors have developed their own theory that explains why some conversations are difficult, which makes for interesting reading. Although this book covers a lot of theory, it’s written in plain language. The book also contains lots of examples to help you put the authors’ advice into practice. Asking people you know to make introductions with other people can immediately provide an icebreaker. This is a new book compared to a classic like How to Win Friends, but it’s been praised as a 21st-century replacement for that book.