Vermont & New Hampshire Injury Blog

5 ways to Put People at Ease When Taking Video Testimony or When Hosting a Dinner Party (Part 3)

Life is so stressful for our clients when they come into our office. Putting them at ease by listening to their story is our gift to them. And let's face it; we all like to talk about ourselves. For instance, if you want to make certain that someone enjoys your company just let them talk about themselves when you are with them. You will learn more about this person and they will walk away thinking about how much better they feel when they get to spend time with you.

 4.   Be Respectful. Often, the person you are interviewing has just been through some terrible experience that you       are asking them to recount. We need to honor that by being respectful and listening to their experience. Seek out ways in which you can empathize with them. Put yourself in their shoes and walk with them a bit. Ask questions. Make sure they understand that you know where their coming from even if you cannot identify with their plight directly.

5.    Show Them Yours and They Will Show You Theirs.  One way to get someone comfortable with opening up with you is to open up with them. They've just been in an accident. Tell them your accident story and how that accident affected your life. Be open, honest and forthright. Do not withhold details; give them the whole account even if you have some negative emotions associated with it. At worst, it will make you seem human and they will appreciate you taking the time to open up to them and at best they will see that you're a person with whom they can identify and trust and will feel secure in opening up with you.

Once you have created an atmosphere of mutual respect, gratitude, honesty, and authenticity then you can sit back and listen to them tell their story. If it's a testimonial then it is helpful to lead them through their case and let them relive it in front of you. When it comes time to ask them to recommend you to another person then they will come across as enthusiastic and genuine.