Focus on the person and the information will follow.

I cannot recall where I read this, but it seems to me to be a relatively unknown, but important idea in the world of relationships. The concept is simple. When talking to someone, say about a project or activity, focus on the person, not the project or activity.

For example, instead of asking the status of something, ask “How are you coming along with X”; before hand, where she got that scarf, or simply state how pretty it looks on her.

In today’s IT-centric world, where most of us spend most of the day staring at a screen, it is easy to lose sight of what’s important… the person, not the goal.

The key to charisma is to make others feel good about themselves.

Just my $.02 for the day.
– Pete