In psychological circles, mirroring is a subconscious reaction between two people who are very close.
Basically, mirroring is when two people who are in conversation mimic one anotherÂs body language, facial expressions, or conversational style. Have you ever looked up in a meeting and seen everyone on your side of the table with their hands folded in the exact same manner?
Closeness and rapport is what we all want from our online efforts.
Mirroring happens naturally when rapport exists, but it can also be helped along by proactive mirroring. Ham-handed sales dudes have been using the “mirroring technique” for years, but we don’t have to resort to cheesy parroting of whole sentences.
Judicious use of the mirroring technique can enhance your online conversations
- If you’re writing a blog post, reflect the topics that your readers express the most interest in.
- If you’re a sales person, include the same language in your response that your prospects use in their inquiries.
- If you’re in customer service, repeat the issue back to the customer so they know you understand their problem.
- If you’re an entrepreneur seeking partners or investors, sync your tone with the individual with whom you’re speaking.
- If you’re a marketing communications professional, use language that reflects the terms and phrases familiar to your audience or industry.
The key is to be natural, and not force it. Have you ever tried using mirroring to strengthen rapport with your customers, readers, or partners?