Nicholas Boothman - Turning First Impressions into Profitable Relationships
A former fashion and advertising photographer with studios on three continents, Nicholas Boothman has presented his revolutionary technique of "Rapport by Design" and "STORYspeak" to businesses and universities around the world including both the Harvard and London Business Schools.
His first two books, How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less and How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less have been translated into more than 20 languages in less than five years.
Biography
I first discovered the secrets of getting along with people during my career as a fashion and advertising photographer. Whether it was working with a single model for a page in Vogue or four hundred people on a cruise ship to promote a Norwegian cruise line, it was obvious that for me photography was more about clicking with people than was about clicking with a camera. What's more, it didn't matter if the shoot was taking place in the lobby of the Ritz Hotel in San Francisco or a ramshackle hut on the side of a mountain in Africa; the principles for establishing rapport were universal.
For as long as I can remember I have found it easy to get along with people. Could it be a gift? Is there such a thing as a natural talent for getting along with people or is it something that's learned along the way? And if it can be learned, can it be taught? I decided to find out.
I knew from 25 years of shooting still photographs for magazines all over the world that attitude and body language are paramount to creating a strong visual impression — magazine ads have less than two seconds to capture the reader's attention. I was also aware that there was a way of using body language and voice-tone to make perfect strangers feel comfortable and cooperative. My third realization was that a few well-chosen words could evoke expression, mood and action in almost any subject. With these insights under my belt I decided to look a little deeper.
Why is it easier to get on with some people than with others? Why can I have an interesting conversation with a person I've just met, and yet someone else might dismiss that same person as boring or threatening? Clearly, something must be happening on a level beyond our conscious awareness, but what is it?
As my new path became clearer I set aside my cameras and resolved to focus on how people work on the inside as well as how they look on the outside. Over the next few years I sought out and studied Neuro Linguistic Programming with Dr. Richard Bandler in London and New York and earned a license as a Master Practitioner of NLP. I studied irresistible language patterns in Canada and England and delved into everything to do with the brain's part in human connectivity. I worked with actors, comedians and drama teachers in America and storytellers in Africa to adapt improvisational drills into exercises that enhance conversational skills.
Since then I have gone on to give keynote speeches and seminars all over the world, working with all kinds of groups and individuals, from sales teams to teachers, from leaders of organizations who thought they knew it all, to children so shy that people thought they were dim-witted. And one thing became very clear; making people like you in 90 seconds or less is a skill that can be taught to anyone; and in a natural, easy and entertaining way.
What people are saying...
"I have personally worked with Nick on 3 events and in each he has gotten rave reviews. The audience was completely focused, the joy of active participation could be heard in the hallway outside the auditorium, and his words touched some so deeply, they told the organizers the event had changed their lives. I highly recommend him to any group that wants to improve their rapport with employees, customers or partners."
–Director, Cross Segment Marketing, AT&T
"The rave reviews are still coming in. Your professionalism, charisma, intellect — are why you are considered one of the best in your field. Again, thanks a million. It's an honor to have the opportunity to work with you."
–RE/MAX Central States and Dixie
"Nick has an ability to cut through so much of the blather that is dished out these days. He took the time to really learn our business and the challenges we face. His preparation and understanding of what it takes to build connections and relationships was critical in giving our team HELPFUL tools they could take out into the workplace immediately."
–Active International
"Every time Nicholas has spoken on our behalf he has enthralled and impressed the audience from the first minute and a half of the presentation until the last syllable was uttered."
–Mackenzie Financial Corp.
"Training the new Supercops includes daily discussions on the works of Aristotle, George Orwell and Nicholas Boothman."
–The New Yorker Magazine
"Nick Boothman delivered the goods! He entertained, educated and captured the imagination of our clients."
–Manulife Financial
Programs
Three signature keynote speeches:
How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or less
Success in business depends on turning first impressions into long-lasting, productive relationships.
First Impressions Right or wrong, people decide how they feel about you in the first two seconds of seeing you, or hearing you, if it’s on the phone. Learn to maximise every first impression.
Communicating Nicholas shows how to simplify ideas so they make sense to others quickly. Simple messages attract, inspire unity and action while complex messages confuse, repel and divide.
Convincing Eighty percent of the time people make their decisions based on their emotions -- even though they think they’re being rational. Nicholas shows how to place simple, memorable, emotional words and images in the hearts and minds of others.
Networking Nick demonstrates the 3-second rule, the secrets of small talk, making yourself memorable, engineering introductions and natural networking.
Get a Boost
In communication it’s the small things that make the big differences. In this upbeat, hour of 90 second Boosts, woven into the theme of your choice, the audience comes away with concrete tool to immediately make a big difference in the way they connect, communicate and collaborate.
Body Language: The Hidden Code
Can you change minds by changing body language?
55% of all face-to-face communication comes from what we see and 38% from the way they sound.
In this upbeat motivational keynote Nicholas shows how to quickly change attitudes, opinions and behaviors in yourself and other people, using body language and other non-verbal cues.
These skills will help you be more effective in connecting, collaborating, communicating, selling, managing, motivating, leading, negotiating and teaching.
