Conversational One Liners That Build Trust

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George Bernard Shaw once said that “The problem with communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” To be effective in both your business and personal life, your communication has to create and maintain trust and rapport. The use of simple one liners can help you steer conversations, form deeper bonds and enable you to communicate on a higher level. Here are a few one liners that, if spoken sincerely, will make interactions memorable and help you get ahead.

Hi, I’m Howard, Howard Olsen. The repetition of your first name twice can be very effective in helping people remember it. Have you ever been in a meeting and forgotten the name of the person you were speaking with? What happend? You had a temporary loss of sanity and panicked to remember; for that moment you were no longer present at that meeting -that’s what happened. So, what happens when the person you’re speaking with forgets your name? They’re no longer present in the meeting and their concentration shifts to trying to remember your name. This subtle repetition of one key name (and it might be your last name that you want folks to remember: Olsen, Howard Olsen) plants it firmly in the mind of the person you are shaking hands with or speaking to on the phone. Now, confident that they remember your name, they can remain present with you in the conversation.

Let me make sure I understand what you’re saying. You may find yourself in the middle of a conversation, a debate or even a disagreement. Take time out with this great one liner. It’s very effective because everyone on the planet wants feel understood. This conversational technique conveys to the other person that you are trying to understand their perspective. When you do that you’re able to maintain a trust filled environment.

I’ve heard some great things about you. We all like to feel significant and appreciated, even if it’s fleeting or with a small group of people. Letting someone know that they’re liked by others and by association also by you, is an important way of building trust, rapport and your own likeability. All things being equal, people cooperate and do business with people they like and trust. It is a choice.

These conversational techniques are not intended to manipulate, rather they’re intended to help navigate conversations that are more effective for all parties involved. Use them well and with sincerity to go forth and prosper!