By Lisa Carolin
Close to 120 Rotary Club members, business people, and Chelsea High School Interact students were educated and entertained on the topic of “How to engage someone in 15 seconds” at the Oct. 4 Rotary Club of Chelsea luncheon held at Silver Maples of Chelsea.
“Everyone can benefit from making a good first impression,” said keynote speaker Michael Angelo Caruso, a Rotarian and a renowned speaker. “If you make people feel good in the first 15 seconds, they will like you.”
Caruso teaches presentation skills for a living.
“Networking is about listening to other people,” he said.
He described the difference between verbal and nonverbal signals.
“The most powerful word you can say is that person’s name,” said Caruso. “Other powerful words are ‘I am proud of you,’ ‘What do you think,’ ‘Will you please,’ and ‘Thank you’.
Nonverbal signals he cited include smiling when you enter a room, sitting in the front row in a room, and walking with purpose.
Caruso engaged with people in the audience including his demonstration of the perfect handshake.
“You want a web to web handshake that is firm and assertive, not a dead fish or a bone crusher handshake,” he demonstrated.
Caruso signed several of his books and invited participants to share their business cards.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea meets Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Common Grill.
