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Be a Copy Cat!




Two decades ago when I visited a restaurant for the first time with cousins, I didn’t know how to use my fork or where to place a serviette? I never wanted to embarrass my cousin that he has brought his small town silly baby sister to a plush place. But I managed the show just by imitating my senior cousin. Not only a restaurant, I came out of many such fixing situations where I never knew how to conduct myself, I just copied the people in front of me with a smile on my face and a confident gaze.

So don’t think copying is bad, copying behavior to learn things is primitive. An infant learns by copying its parents and people around. A language is caught rather than taught by imitating. We work on our skill sets by following an ideal or mentor. We pickup many a traits of ours; which we like in our parents, friends and spouse subconsciously just by replicating them.

Same can be applied to an interview scenario, where you are confused to choose what type of body language, tone of voice, gesture, facial expressions and energy levels to portray a confident self; just copy the interviewer. This technique is called Mirroring.

Mirroring applies to body language, energy levels and pace and volume as well. As soon as, you connect with your interviewer using eye contact and triple nod while fronting the fellow; you can follow his/her pace and volume. If the interviewer is soft, calm and relaxed meet them on the same level and if the other side is loud; raise your volume. Imitating the volume and pace is more effective than mimicking them on physical level. Avoid overdoing physical mimicking or you will qualify for Ellen’s Mirror Moves, which can land you in soup.

Initially Mirroring may look like a task .You need to copy the other side consciously, connect with the interviewer and gradually take it to sub conscious level. The hook is in staying calm and act confidently till the end of the call.

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