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How Leaders Run Successful Meetings: 10 Tips and Tricks

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As a business leader, what is one tip/trick for running a successful meeting?

To help you adopt the best approach in running meetings successfully, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best insights. From allowing your team to contribute in advance to using friendly communication during meetings, there are several tips that are useful for any business leader seeking to conduct successful meetings.

Here are 10 tips these leaders follow to run successful meetings:

  • Allow Your Team to Contribute in Advance
  • Pep Things Up With a Brainstorming Session
  • Create and Share a Clear Agenda for the Meeting
  • Pay Attention to Who You Ask to Attend
  • Engage Everyone
  • Kick-Off With Dialogue that Supports Team Trust
  • Leave Smartphones at the Door
  • Send Out a Meeting Announcement Early
  • Leave Room in Your Schedule for Questions
  • Use Friendly Communication During the Meeting

Allow Your Team to Contribute in Advance

To have a successful, collaborative meeting, offer your entire team the opportunity to suggest topics or ask questions beforehand. This can be done simply on a project-management task or even on a Google sheet. Start by stating the main purpose of the meeting, and then encourage your employees to add sub-topics and put forth any questions or comments they may have. This will keep everyone engaged by feeling they’ve actually contributed to the meeting, rather than just be an “attendee.”

Shaun Price, MitoQ

Pep Things Up With a Brainstorming Session

A successful meeting requires every participant to contribute to the outcome, and one way to get the adrenaline flowing is to have a brainstorming session where everyone in the meeting can share their viewpoints. In addition to adding to the energy in the room, this move will also give team members the chance to present their ideas without feeling conscious about how they’ll play out in the long run. After all, brainstorming is all about coming up with ideas, no matter how vague, so that every thought and notion can be explored.

Riley Beam, Douglas R. Beam, P.A.

Create and Share a Clear Agenda for the Meeting

Prepare and send out a clear agenda before the meeting starts. This will help the meeting stay on track and ensure that all of the topics that need to be discussed are covered. It is also helpful to provide a brief overview of each topic before the meeting starts so everyone is on the same page. Having discipline around creating an agenda for each meeting may sound like a lot of work, but that’s actually a very good thing, since it leads to fewer, but much higher quality meetings. One thing that employees commonly complain a lot about is too many unnecessary meetings and too much time wasted. So by having a laser focus on the topics that are truly relevant for the meeting, you’ll be able to get to the core of the matter much faster, and everyone will appreciate that.

Matthew Ramirez, Paraphrase Tool

Pay Attention to Who You Ask to Attend

Many business leaders spend a lot of time on setting up their meeting agenda, but give little thought to who should be in attendance, yet by making it exclusive you will have a greater likelihood of it being successful. The people in attendance can have a dramatic impact on a meeting in everything from its focus to meaningful engagement, and making it a catch-all in terms of who is requested to be there can water down the presentation’s effectiveness. Making sure those who are asked to attend have relevant knowledge, have responsibilities related to the topic, will be involved in agenda implementation, and can contribute points that add to the presentation, is as critical to the meeting’s effectiveness as any material or discussion points. By spending as much time evaluating who you want to be at the meeting as you do setting up your presentation, you will better ensure the engagement of those in attendance and its overall success.

Adelle Archer, Eterneva

Engage Everyone

Find a way to engage everybody at the meeting. No one wants to spend time at a meeting just to keep a chair warm, and if they sit there the whole time without saying a word, you haven’t done your job in leading the meeting. Everyone should have something to offer, or they shouldn’t be there. Make sure to touch base with each participant and see what they have to contribute. They’ll feel engaged and appreciated, and you won’t be leaving any valuable input on the table.

Marcus Hutsen, Patriot Coolers

Kick-Off With Dialogue that Supports Team Trust

Kick it off with an opportunity for people to share what is going well and areas they wish to take the initiative to improve to support team trust. This is the most critical element for teams to achieve their goals, so it’s important to cultivate trust in each interaction and meeting. Behaviors that erode trust include micromanaging, failure to share information, gossip, comparison of colleagues, and toxic productivity. Instead, allow your team to thrive by embodying a culture of learning, growth, and collaboration so people feel it’s okay to fail, share progress with others, and cheer on teammates’ success. When trust-building is a priority in meetings, all stakeholders can raise issues and ideas without fear of retaliation.

Tommy Chang, Homelister

Leave Smartphones at the Door

Require everyone to leave their smartphones at the door. Smartphones are supposed to be a convenient productivity tool, but I’ve noticed that they ultimately get in the way of collaboration and creativity more than they help it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve referred to my phone to aid in work, but then became sidetracked by a text or voice message, or a juicy piece of news. Meetings should only last about 30 minutes anyway: People should be able to live without their phones for that long.

Asker Ahmed, iProcess

Send Out a Meeting Announcement Early

Give early notice. One important but often overlooked key to running a successful meeting takes place before it even begins. If you want to be a good host, you need to announce the meeting with plenty of advanced notice. Sending out a timely announcement and reminders about your agenda helps ensure that your attendees can be there and sets a good tone for the rest of your meeting.

Rachel Reid, Subtl Beauty

Leave Room in Your Schedule for Questions

Don’t forget to leave time for clarifications. When you’re outlining a meeting agenda, there’s internal pressure to ensure you have enough material and that you’re not leaving out anything relevant. But it’s also important to build time into that schedule for questions. Most meetings are not so clear that no one needs clarification in any area. If you fill your agenda to the brim, you risk running over and delaying people getting to their next commitment. It’s better in the long run to have that gap built in.

Vimla Black Gupta, Ourself

Use Friendly Communication During the Meeting

Meetings are typically serious affairs, especially if objectives and agendas are closely followed. To maintain a good environment and promote a sense of collaboration and relationship building, allot a few minutes at the start and end of each meeting for some small talk, questions, and other chit-chats. A serious topic can be made more entertaining and interactive by using humor. Always be kind in your communication, encourage laughter or pleasant contact, and remember that meetings are still social gatherings. Keep meetings on schedule, but provide time for personal interaction.

Shad Elia, New England Home Buyers

13 Stories: The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Received

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What is the best career advice you’ve been given?

To help you learn from the career advice of others to make you successful, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best guidance. From being proactive in seizing growth opportunities to working to learn rather than to earn, there are several pieces of career advice that you could make your own to help you chart your course for a successful career.

Here are 13 pieces of career advice these leaders have received that help them the most:

  • Be Proactive in Seizing Career Growth Opportunities
  • Don’t Settle
  • Honor Your Instincts
  • Get a Mentor
  • Seek Happiness Instead of Money
  • No Job is Too Small
  • Trust Your Instincts
  • Focus on Living Your Dream and Not Someone Else’s
  • Network to Help You Advance
  • Learn How to Set Boundaries Right From the Get-Go
  • Set Aside Time for Yourself to Avoid Burnout
  • Be 15 Minutes Early for All Appointments
  • Work to Learn Rather Than to Earn

Be Proactive in Seizing Career Growth Opportunities

I entered the workforce over a decade ago with the concept that if I worked hard enough and exceeded my employer’s expectations, they would automatically reward me with raises and offer promotions. My then manager cleared this sad misconception during my very first year at that job. Upon asking why I wasn’t considered for a better-paying position at a larger branch of the organization, he responded by saying, “your career is your responsibility. Learn to advocate for yourself when you know there’s an opportunity; if there is no opportunity, create one.”

I believe his words led me to where I am now, heading my own well-established recruiting firm. So many people become successful due to stellar career management skills, even with otherwise average job skills. Offering to work on an important project or asking for a raise or promotion when you deserve one will lead to faster professional growth than waiting for an opportunity to knock at your door.

Anjela Mangrum, Mangrum Career Solutions

Don’t Settle

Don’t settle. That’s the best career advice I’ve ever been given, and it’s something that I try to live by every day. When you’re looking for a job, don’t just take the first offer that comes your way. Make sure that it’s a job that you’re passionate about and that you can see yourself doing for the long haul. Don’t settle for a position just because it pays well or because it’s easy. Challenges and obstacles are what make life interesting and worthwhile. If you can find a job that offers both of those things, then you’ve found something special. So, don’t settle – keep searching until you find the perfect fit.

Antreas Koutis, Financer

Honor Your Instincts

While advice can be helpful, you should also honor your own instincts. Be honest with yourself about what you want to do career-wise, and try not to worry too much about doing what people expect you to do or what they think you should do. This idea may sound simple, but it is a pain point for many people who feel parental or societal pressure to pursue careers in traditional fields such as law or healthcare.

Drew Sherman, RPM

Get a Mentor

Once you have been working in the field for some time and have started seeing some success, it is important to get a mentor. A mentor will help you take your career to the next level by sharing their own expertise and knowledge with you. They will also provide guidance on how you can progress further in your field and what new challenges you should take up. Having a mentor is an invaluable asset, so if you can find one, make sure to make the most of their mentorship!

Danielle Bedford, Coople

Seek Happiness Instead of Money

Entry level workers should focus on what they want to be doing. This is the start of everything, and it’s important that you enjoy the work you’re doing. We’re so driven by money, but sometimes that negatively impacts our health and we end up in a job we hate. Take your young working days to determine what you like and what you don’t like, and work on improving your skills. Your older self will be grateful you chased happiness instead of money.

Jodi Neuhauser, Ovaterra

No Job is Too Small

Right after college, I wanted to go to New York to start my career in television. But Barbara Walters told me I should ‘go local’ by working at smaller market television stations nearer my hometown and work my way up. So, I started as an assistant, getting coffee, logging tapes, and running audio. Then I worked my way up to writer, producer, and anchor. I’m so glad I took Barbara’s advice because it allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them without worrying that my career would be over before it even began. Starting small also helped me figure out what I like doing regarding news broadcasting and what I don’t like–which, I always tell my kids, is just as important because figuring out precisely what you want to do takes time.

Maria Shriver, MOSH

Trust Your Instincts

Although intuition and gut feeling are mostly subjective and hard to describe, each person knows what it’s like to trust their instincts. Having all the information and facts is undoubtedly a crucial part of decision-making, but it’s the indescribable quality of your instincts that will ultimately take you to the right place. If you start feeling into your intuition early in your career, you’re more likely to be able to count on it for the bigger decisions later on.

Igal Rubinshtein, Home Essentials Direct

Focus on Living Your Dream and Not Someone Else’s

Focus on living your dream and not someone else’s. That is the most profound piece of advice someone has ever handed down to me as a business leader in my community. It’s so common to be consumed by someone else’s success on social media or within your friendship circle or family. Instead, the principal objective is to focus on your business’s ups and downs, be present with the teachings of the hardships and celebrate your wins. You must halt all comparisons and enjoy the voyage and the place it’s taking you because someone else’s highlights are not your reality.

Anamika Goyal, Cottage

Network to Help You Advance

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received regarding my professional life was to always place a strong emphasis on networking in order to remain relevant (both technically and relationship-wise). Through our networks, we will be able to learn about new advances in our sectors and environments, new ways of thinking, and new opportunities that will help us advance in our careers. Our networks, which can include coaches, mentors, sponsors, stakeholders, and peers, are an essential component of our reputation and skill-building, as well as our overall well-being, and they serve as a foundation for each stage of our professional path.

Josh Tyler, Tell Me Best

Learn How to Set Boundaries Right From the Get-Go

There was a time when hustle and grind were in the spotlight and having little to no boundaries was encouraged. But given how unsustainable this practice is, it didn’t last long and most leaders picked up on this shift. However, traces of this culture still remain and that is why it’s crucial to have healthy boundaries and maintain a work-life balance. Although it can feel uncomfortable at first, you will soon realize the importance of boundaries for your mental well-being and the longevity of your career.

Benoit Lacroix, Portmoni

Set Aside Time for Yourself to Avoid Burnout

Make sure to take breaks. A mentor once told me about the importance of setting aside time for relaxation. As an entrepreneur, my work can feel deeply personal and all-consuming. But never putting aside time for yourself can cause major burnout, which can be detrimental to your career. Putting aside my job for a little while each day to do something I enjoy helps me stay sharp and focused when it’s time to get back to work.

Rachel Reid, Subtl Beauty

Be 15 Minutes Early for All Appointments

The best career advice I have ever gotten is to be 15 minutes early. In other words, you should make it a habit to be 15 minutes early for all your appointments in a professional setting. Keeping in mind the slogan “15 minutes early or you’re late” helps me leave the house more quickly since I have, how should we put it, an unjustifiably optimistic perception of the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B. That slogan has helped me be on time for meetings and activities at work. You will undoubtedly come into contact with several pieces of career advice as your career progresses. Consider career guidance like you would feedback. You can read some suggestions and find out what you already do well and what you should work on improving.

Akber Zaidi, WeLoans

Work to Learn Rather Than to Earn

The best advice I’ve been given was by Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad Poor Dad. The advice is to ask – “are you working to earn, or working to learn?” Society teaches us to chase the big paycheque. Everyone’s rushing to earn the biggest number they can, mostly so they can feel better when comparing their salary or net worth to others their age. Chasing a bigger salary can often lead to working stressful jobs, with bad management and a poor path upwards. 

Instead, working to learn is much more fun, and often leads to a higher level of financial success further down the line. By pursuing opportunities to expand your skillset you’ll naturally become much more valuable. Instead of going down one path, you can end up combining several different skill sets and be uniquely valuable in a specific niche. This can lead to some incredibly unique and exciting opportunities. Which are far more fulfilling than rushing down a traditional route, not to mention often more lucrative in the end too.

Craig Galloway, Tech Detective

Simple Tips To Guide You Toward Career Advancement

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Written by Caitlin V., Internal Recruiter for Freedom Financial Network

At Freedom Financial, one of our core values is “Get Better” and embracing this value creates an environment of self-improvement, learning from our mistakes, and using what we learn to grow. One way we foster internal mobility and career growth is allowing employees to apply for a new position within the company after only 90 days. We consider internal talent first and we encourage employees to strive toward their ultimate career and personal goals.

I began my journey with Freedom in Customer Service but after some time, I decided to explore other options. I applied for a Recruiting Assistant job that had just been posted. I was thrilled to be selected for the position and I spent a year assisting a brilliant team of recruiters who taught me so much that I was promoted into a recruiter role myself. I am appreciative to have found a career I am truly passionate about.

Because of my gratitude for Freedom’s growth culture, I became an Internal Recruiter and Career Counselor. I recruit for positions that are exclusively available to current employees. I also offer counseling for employees who want to discuss their growth options, resume writing, or interviewing.

Although everyone’s ideal career path is different and each employee has a diverse skillset and experience, here is some of the most common advice that I provide to our employees working toward career advancement.

Ensure that you have mastered your current position

The best way to prove you are ready for a new challenge is to excel in your current job. Hiring managers will often seek references or proof of your success. Keep copies of scorecards or feedback about your performance and reliability so you can share or highlight these in your interview and on your resume. If someone is struggling in their current role it can be difficult for a manager to consider giving that person a new challenge.

Share your interest with your leadership team

Most of our employees have consistent coaching sessions with leadership. This is the perfect platform to discuss your performance and areas of opportunity. You can also use these sessions to talk about career goals. Most leaders can offer advice or recommendations for how to achieve your goals. They may even assign you special projects or leadership tasks that you can add to your resume.

Research the positions you are interested in
I highly recommend learning all you can about a position before you apply. Read the full job description and think of ways you can prove that you meet the requirements. Think of situations when you have used the skillsets mentioned in the job description. In some cases, your supervisor might be able to help you set up a side-by-side with someone who is currently in that position. This is a great way to see the work up close and ask questions about why that person enjoys their job or what their biggest challenges are.

Brush up on interview skills
Some of the most challenging interview questions are behavioral-based questions. These questions will ask you to tell the interview about a time that you used a certain skillset or came up against a particular challenge. The interviewer wants to hear about a specific situation from a current or previous job. The best way to answer these questions is to use the S.T.A.R method:

*S= Situation: Describe the situation you were in or the request you received.
*T= Task: What was the goal or what was being asked of you?
*A= Action: Describe the actions you took in order to reach the goal or complete the request.
*R= Result: What was the outcome? How did it end? Was the customer/leader satisfied and how could you tell? What did you learn?

Taking the leap toward a new career can be exciting as well as nerve-wracking. Following these guidelines should take some of the guess work out of your development pathway. The thought and work you put into your career search and the interview process will tell you more about yourself and whether you can see yourself succeed in a new area of the business or, possibly, a whole new industry.

9 Tips to Help You Move into a New Career

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What is one tip you have for someone looking to launch into a new career?

To help you launch into a new career, we asked career coaches and successful entrepreneurs this question for their best insights. From finding your transferable skills to talking to those who know you, there are several tips that may help you break into a new profession.

Here are nine tips to help you move into a new career:

  • Find Your Transferable Skills
  • Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”
  • Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”
  • Start Building Your Network Early
  • Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next
  • Research, Listen, and Network
  • Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career
  • Ask for Help
  • Talk to Those Who Know You

Find Your Transferable Skills

It doesn’t matter if you are going from a pastry chef to an astronaut, every job, every volunteer experience, every class taken, has provided you with a skill that you can bring to another sector of your life. Find those skills from your past experiences and highlight them on your resume and cover letter. If you are having trouble finding these transferable skills, try reviewing job posts you are interested in and see what skills are listed on the job posting that you have. A lot of the time a little creativity is all you need.

Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University

Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”

One strategy that a lot of people employ when wading into a totally new area is to fake it until they make it. In other words, they pretend to know a lot more about the industry and role than they do in reality. In my opinion, this is a terrible technique for breaking into a new vertical and gaining the trust of new team members. It is a much smarter play to own your lack of expertise and show some humility, while at the same time expressing your passion to learn and gain experience.

People, especially managers, will respect you more for being humble and genuine than feigning expertise. Most people are smart enough to be able to see right through a phony. Plus, when you try the “fake it till you make it” approach, it just takes one tough question or misstatement to expose you. Don’t run the risk – just own your inexperience and be cool about it.

John Ross, Test Prep Insight

Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”

A good starting point is your resume. Rewrite it as a skills-based document instead of a chronological listing of your previous experience. Consider a personal website where you introduce yourself with a YouTube video. Create short video case studies highlighting your problem-solving prowess that will help you succeed in your new profession.

Your goal is to reinforce the fact you have the skills to succeed in a new career and previous job titles aren’t significant. Finally, mentally prepare yourself to be looked at like you’re applying for your first “real” job because that’s how many prospective employers will see you.

Joshua Chin, Chronos

Start Building Your Network Early

Having a professional network in your new industry before you make the transition will give you access to more opportunities when you’re ready to make the switch, and your resume is likely to get more serious consideration from hiring managers if you’re referred or recommended by someone connected to the company. This is often a big hurdle for those switching careers since they don’t have experience in the industry, which can make it a challenge to compete with applicants who are already established in the field. You can kill two birds with one stone by attending workshops, conferences, trade fairs, or certification courses that help you gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the new industry while making connections with other professionals.

Archie Payne, Caltek Staffing

Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next

The space in time when you are on the brink of launching into a new career is incredibly special. It is a pivotal point where you have this rare view of where you’ve been, where you are now and can see a wide view of what could be next. You have both the benefit of hindsight (to learn from), the benefit of aversion (to understand what isn’t working), and the benefit of motivation (to understand what drives you and what you really value).
This window is temporary, and it’s unlikely that you’ll remember it all when you make a decision and are 1 year into your new career. 

So, write it all down. Write down answers to why you did what you’ve done already, what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned. Write down how you feel right now, what sensations arise for you when you think of change, and what feels important to do differently. Write down what you want to take with you for your next chapter and what outcomes you’d love to achieve. Take stock, and enjoy reflecting on your journey in a year!

Hannah Ray, TAKE Coaching Amsterdam

Research, Listen, and Network

Launching into a new career is an exciting endeavor! Some folks are prone to jumping headfirst into unknown territory while others refrain from making impulsive decisions. Know ‘why’ you’re desiring to pursue a new career. Map out questions you have pertaining to this transition and the type of work you expect to be performing in the future. Conduct your own research. Do not blindly rely upon third-party resources from people to companies painting a picture of your desired career. 

Engage actively in this learning process by engaging in online and offline forums, network with people in those respective career paths, talk to headhunters representing roles in that respective career sector, weigh the pros & cons of this career choice, connect with institutions (academic & professional) that can share more information; etc.  Remember we live in a world where the majority of the population is in “sales mode”. It’s important that you exercise sensible judgment when making this important decision.

Sasha Laghonh, Sasha Talks

Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career

Upskilling offers a significant advantage in the modern labor market. Launching a new career is hard. The barrier to entry is often difficult to overcome and this is especially true for individuals who have spent a considerable amount of time in a career they would like to leave behind. These individuals could have plenty of experience but it may not be relevant to another industry.

Employers are mostly considered by this fact. Individuals should want to obtain new skills before they enter a new career for a better chance of success. Getting more formal education can be expensive, but other methods are available. Bootcamps are available for a variety of information economy skill sets such as marketing, coding, sales and graphic design. Upskilling presents a significant advantage for individuals who are looking to enter a new career.

Sean Doherty, Box Genie

Ask for Help

There’s going to be a lot to learn as you begin your journey into a new career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a manager, coworker, or anyone else. Reach out to other professionals in your desired career on LinkedIn and other business networking platforms—be sure to briefly explain why you’re looking to make a transition and ask well thought out questions—it shows that you are proactive, resourceful, and an effective communicator.

Dan Gray, Kotn Supply

Talk to Those Who Know You

With many companies making layoffs right now, the time is perfect to launch into a new career. Daunting, scary, and something you’ve always wanted to do. The best ideas during times of RIF and redundancy have come out of layoffs. Explore what you are passionate about and where your knowledge is or what you want to learn about. Engage with that space. Contribute and learn. Ask questions and network. 

Talk to those who know you well. Family, friends, and colleagues from past and present. Ask them what your strengths are, and what you are great at. Don’t ask what they think about you – just what they feel your strongest self is. Know what you ‘want to be famous for’.  Follow it with energy and passion. The rest will follow.

Duncan Evemy, DE Talent Consulting

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9 Ways To Build Instant Rapport in an Interview

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To help you build instant rapport during interviews, we asked CEOs and HR managers this question for their best insights. From showing enthusiasm and excitement to researching about the interviewer, there are several tips that may help you establish instant rapport in engaging with your interviewer. 

Here are 9 ways for building instant rapport in interviews:

  • Show Enthusiasm and Excitement
  • Engage Attentively
  • Dress to Impress
  • Express Gratitude
  • Align With The Interviewer
  • Convey Genuine Interest With  Open-ended Questions
  • Gauge The Atmosphere and Respond Accordingly
  • Share About Yourself Beyond Your Resume
  • Research About The Interviewer

Show Enthusiasm and Excitement

There’s no denying that landing a new job opportunity is an exciting endeavor and if you can bring these emotions to the forefront and let your enthusiasm shine through, you’ll make a great first impression. Moreover, by reminding yourself of all the reasons you’re applying to an organization, you immediately alleviate a lot of the stress associated with interviews since your attention is redirected towards the positive.

Harry Morton, Lower Street

Engage Attentively

While it’s common to feel some amount of nervousness during an interview, don’t let it drive the way you speak and react to conversations. By being mindful and present, you’ll be able to bring your best self forward and show your interviewer that you’re actively listening to everything they have to say. Take the time to pause and reflect on questions rather than saying the first thing that comes to your mind. This effortlessly highlights that you’re someone who takes the time to carefully think and respond to questions as opposed to being hasty.

Riley Beam, Douglas R. Beam, P.A.

Dress To Impress

Dress to impress, even if you are not sure what the normal work attire is at the company. It is better to overdress than underdress. Furthermore, putting effort into your attire is a sign of respect as it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Even before the interview gets started, the interviewer will be able to tell by your attire how committed you are to the goal of working at this company.

Nick Shackelford, Structured Agency

Express Gratitude

Don’t just thank the employer for their time, make it sound genuine. Tell them how grateful you are for the opportunity and how much you enjoyed the conversation. Request their business card and follow up with a gracious, well-written email later that day. Many hospitality job seekers mistakenly believe that thank you notes are unnecessary, but they are incorrect. When it’s meaningful and emailed or hand-written, thank you can cement the rapport you’ve built with the employer and tip the scales in your favor if they are choosing between multiple qualified candidates.

Axel Hernborg, Tripplo.com

Align With The Interviewer

A job seeker can build instant rapport in an interview by finding one specific area of common ground. For instance, if the company’s mission statement focuses on proactive customer service, then discuss in length how your work ethic revolves around providing an exceptional customer experience. Continue to ask your interviewer friendly questions to further display your common interests. A better candidate is one that aligns themselves with a company’s mission statement and core values.

Bradley Hall, Sonu Sleep

Convey Genuineness With Open-ended Questions

Show genuine interest by asking open-ended questions, not only about the employer but the person interviewing as well. Building rapport is a necessary component of human connection yet it can be easily overlooked in an interview if we’re feeling anxious or worried. It is especially important to use these feelings as an indicator light to ask more questions and pay attention to what’s being shared, both verbally and non-verbally. 

For instance, asking specific questions about what their own employment experience has been like or how things have changed since they began at the company can help make that personal connection as well as teach you about the company culture, leadership, and recent history. Remember you are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you, and it’s up to you to ask the right questions and do your due diligence when it comes to finding the right job fit.

Russell Lieberman, Altan Insights

Gauge The Atmosphere and Respond Accordingly

Reading your interviewer’s tone of voice, and the general atmosphere of the interview can help you build instant rapport with the interviewer. Most of the time, these non-verbal cues can help you structure your responses. If the interviewer starts off the interview with a joke, laugh out of politeness or crack a joke in response. If the interviewer shifts into more straightforward questioning, compose yourself and match their tone. This social perceptiveness helps you forge a genuine connection with your interviewer. When you match the energy that’s being put forth, the conversation becomes fairly smooth and harmonious. You might even come off as a good conversationalist!

Eric Ang, One Search Pro

Share About Yourself Beyond Your Resume

If you want to build instant rapport in an interview, share information about who you are outside of what is on your resume or in your application. Talk about what hobbies you enjoy and other things that can help build a connection with the people or person you are interviewing with. This can reveal common interests that can give you an increase in chances of getting hired.

Leo Livshetz, Unhide

Research About The Interviewer

The best way to build instant rapport with anyone with whom you have an interview (whether it’s for a job or a media interview) is to take a few minutes to find out about who they are, what they’ve done and any potential areas of interest and connection. I usually start on LinkedIn. This gives me an overview of their professional background as well as any contact information, websites, experiences and positions. 

While you can find some areas of connection in terms of education or experience, my favorite way to start a conversation is to read their posts and ask any questions that I may have about what they posted. I’ve also Googled people to see what other interesting information came up, usually I find something about their hobbies, interests, charities or other areas that are meaningful to them. This gives me the opportunity to ask questions that I know they will be excited to chat about.

Ivana Taylor, DIYMarketers

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