On Jimmy Fallon and Finding Common Ground

Forbes recently published an interesting little piece here on why Jimmy Fallon is so liked and successful. Much of the “Jimmy Fallon technique” is basic rapport building while emphasizing the importance of listening.

The conclusion of the article is that there are “three lessons to take from Jimmy Fallon:

  1. Find common ground with the person you’re speaking to.
  2. Ask questions and spend 75% of the conversation listening to their answers.
  3. Make them feel as though they’re the funniest, most important, and most fascinating person in the room.”

4 thoughts on “On Jimmy Fallon and Finding Common Ground”

  1. I think there’s a fourth lesson to take from Jimmy Fallon: Appreciate something about the person speaking to you.

    I’m a Jimmy Fallon fan, and I think part of what makes him such a good listener is that he appreciates something about every person he meets, which gives him a good reason to show respect and listen. Jimmy appreciates his fans, his guests, his staff, and finds value in just about every person he meets. I think Jimmy Fallon’s appreciation for the other person and what the other person brings to the table is what makes him able to find common ground, want to ask questions, and make people feel good in the first place.

  2. Although Jimmy Fallon is a fantastic television host that bases his charm in comedy and entertainment, the three suggested tactics are beneficial for all personality types, humorous or not. Often in a legal setting, humor is used to lighten a heavy topic or sidetrack rising tensions, but comedy is not always appropriate. Often lives are drastically altered by legal outcomes and should be treated with the seriousness deserved. That being said, these three tactics are still necessary to establishing high-quality, effective relationships with clients and other legal professionals.
    Whether conducting client interviews or investigations, consulting co-workers, communicating with a court and its staff, engaging parties in a conflict, or offering legal advice or services, your success relies on understanding obtained by active listening and observation. This mutual understanding is often generated through relatability in some fashion, whether actual or perceived. A common denominator (real or not) is needed for any relationship to exist in the first place.
    Therefore, these three tips provide a basic, but necessary, way to develop positive, efficient relationships with our clients, peers, and friends relating to laughing or serious matters.

  3. I feel like the most important thing that Jimmy does, and that any negotiator/mediator/attorney can do is to find common ground with the person your speaking to. As the article said, Jimmy Fallon is dominating the ratings because he enjoys people and people enjoy him. Once you have found common ground with the person you are speaking with, it will not only make them more comfortable but also create a bond and mutual likeness, and in turn both parties will enjoy each other. If someone likes the person they are speaking to, it will be make negotiations/interviews easier and also make it much more likely that that person will open up and share more vital information.

  4. The “Jimmy Fallon technique” is a great point for attorneys who wish to become an effective negotiator. To be an effective negotiator, it is important to actually listen to your counterpart and build trust. Having a prior relationship with your counterpart can greatly assist you in achieving these points; however, sometimes you will find yourself negotiating with a counterpart you have never encountered. This is when the “Jimmy Fallon technique” may come in handy.
    Building rapport can be difficult, especially when you meet a person for the first time. Jimmy Fallon’s technique of asking questions to find common ground and then allowing the other person to speak the majority of the time, while you actively listen, is key to speeding up the rapport building process. Rapport will lead to a trusting relationship, and with trust you have cooperation to reach mutual goals and an efficient negotiation.
    Thank you Jimmy Fallon for making negotiations even more interesting. Now I have a reason to stay up to watch Jimmy Fallon and try to acquire his rapport building skills.

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