Can you make someone like you in seconds? Vanessa Van Edwards returns with the science-backed secrets of dating and likeability - tested in real-life dating scenarios for the very first time.
In this conversation, Vanessa and Steven discuss topics such as, the small mistake that makes people dislike you, the real reason you’re still single, the one habit that will keep you lonely forever, and the facial expression that increases your likeability by 80%.
00:00 Intro
03:02 How Important Is It to Master the Skill of Communication?
03:33 Are We Set in Our Ways? Is Charisma Genetic?
04:18 Different Types of Awkwardness in People
04:53 How to Make Friends – The 3 Core Friendship Values
06:37 How Do You Figure Out Your Core Friendship Values?
07:34 How Many People Has Vanessa Taught These Skills? And What Do They Want?
08:18 First Impressions
10:24 Profile Pictures
12:11 Profile Picture Examples
14:10 Add Cues for a Better First Impression
15:28 How Sunglasses Block Connection
16:21 More Good Cues for First Impressions
16:54 How Do I Make a Really Bad First Impression?
18:30 What We Need to Signal to Express Warmth
21:27 Breaking the Script
23:19 Master Communicators and the "Chemical Cocktail"
25:33 Thread Theory
26:12 How to Stop Feeling Like You're Making the Conversation About Yourself
26:33 British vs. American Expression Styles
26:52 Second Impressions
28:11 Online First Impressions
29:11 Be the Red Apple
30:17 How to Make an Impression on Zoom
32:08 The Story Toolbox
35:07 How Important Is Background on Zoom?
36:29 Where to Look on Zoom Calls
37:16 Date Experiments
39:45 Adding Depth to Conversations
40:45 Dream Killing in Conversation
41:47 Cheersing
43:09 Drivers and Passengers in Conversation
44:23 Micro Wins
45:05 Body Language That Indicates Attraction
49:35 Why Busyness Is Not a Mark of Success
51:16 The Jam Study – Too Many Choices
52:12 Prioritizing Self-Care Over Connection
53:08 Dating Checklists
54:23 Do We Get More Numb the More We Date?
55:32 Two Challenges If You're in a Funk or Feeling Lonely
58:26 Steve Being a Control Freak
01:00:14 Networking Events
01:00:55 Ads
01:01:59 How Do Great Leaders Communicate?
01:02:50 Date 2 – Giving People Hooks in Conversation
01:07:02 How to Present Your Job to Someone
01:09:20 Using the Word "Because" as a Leader
01:11:01 How Do We Know If Someone Likes Us?
01:14:20 What If You're Not a Funny Person?
01:16:09 Can You Learn to Be Funny?
01:16:57 Touch
01:18:10 Hacks for Being Funny
01:19:36 Channeling Other People
01:20:36 Microexpressions
01:21:37 Reading Fear in People's Faces
01:23:24 Seeing Disgust in People's Faces
01:25:09 How to Tell If Someone Is Angry Without Them Saying It
01:27:05 How to Tell When Someone Is Truly Happy
01:28:49 How to Tell If Someone Is Sad Even If They Don’t Say It
01:31:03 How to Tell If Someone Is Surprised
01:32:33 How to Tell If Someone Has Contempt Toward You
01:35:23 Can and Should We Change Our Personalities?
01:37:20 Steve's Personality Traits
01:38:49 Making Your New Partner Take a Personality Test
01:41:20 Conscientious People
01:43:27 How It All Links With Neurodivergence
01:44:11 Extroversion
01:47:51 Agreeableness
01:49:57 Neuroticism
01:51:53 Ads
01:52:47 How to Spot a Narcissist
01:54:40 Longevity and Personality Traits
01:57:05 Do Extroverts Have Better Immunity?
01:58:04 Personality Traits of Lifelong Singles
01:59:57 Should We Know Other People's Personality Types When We Meet Them?
02:01:38 Feeling Like the Vibe Is Off
02:03:31 What Are You Doing to Serve Others
Follow Vanessa:
Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/4i5lvOnaqSb
Website - https://g2ul0.app.link/6KQtfyqaqSb
You can find out more about Vanessa’s personality test, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/SnXJL6ntqSb
You can purchase Vanessa’s book, ‘Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication’, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/L0YqrVvaqSb
You can purchase the The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: Second Edition, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb
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Ready to think like a CEO? Gain access to the 100 CEOs newsletter here: https://bit.ly/100-ceos-newsletter
Follow me:
https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb
Sponsors:
Linkedin Jobs - https://www.linkedin.com/doac
ZOE - http://joinzoe.com with code STEVEN10 for 10% off"
📝 Transcript
Transcribing... This may take a few minutes.
Top Comments
@TheDiaryOfACEO
We tried something VERY different for this episode with real world dates 👀What did you think of that section? If you enjoyed it please hit the like button on the vid - that’s the best way to let us know ❤ (also, would be doing me a big favour if you could subscribe & join our community 🙏🏾🥲) i appreciate you - SB! X
1228 likes
@Mountprospect1
Man... I am so happy that all this stuff slides away with age and you naturally become more comfortable and less bothered by how you are perceived by others. Hang in there kids.... it gets waaaaay better.
2470 likes
@bkad2596
Had a meeting with my manager after listening to this interview. When my manager asked how I was, I flipped the script and said I was gathering good experiences for the week, and asked what fun experience she had this week.
She paused and fumbled for a moment and then she shared an experience she had. As she related the fun experience, she relaxed and her face brightened. When focus went back to our meeting, it was positive and personalized. BRILLIANT!!!
1643 likes
@pjglory3348
My mum was a salesperson in a clothing store. She never opened a first contact with the scripted “how are you doing? Anything I can help you with today?” She would do a glancing contact such as “How is the weather now?” ( she worked in a mall and couldn’t see outside). This was a non-threat approach and made it easy for the person to make a connection. She was super successful!
644 likes
@corneliussavopoulos8587
In a world of apathy, passiveness and depression its great to see a person whos so alive and real and fun and spontaneous
100 likes
@IAmPamPoovey
Tbh, I'm too old for this ish. I'ma go bake fresh bread and ignore everyone.
1878 likes
@McGonzalez95
Steven trying to have a happy face made me laugh as crazy, he was like a robot breaking down 😂😂
152 likes
@aaronparson9564
Best response I've heard to "Hi, how are you?" Is "Good, but I lie a lot."
192 likes
@hardcandy921
I could watch her coach dating couples for hours! Wish she had a show doing that because she has such good ideas, and it's fascinating seeing how we interact with new people in social situations. Thanks for having this discussion!
64 likes
@erinmcd4352
Tried out the advice to ask something different than "how are you?" with one of my clients this morning. Instead I asked her, "Do anything fun this week?" and it led to a beautiful conversation that allowed both of us to get to know each other in a brand new way!
Thank you :D
431 likes
@loriclark553
I hate it when people ask me if I've done anything fun lately. I freeze, feel boring, have to exaggerate an experience
205 likes
@funkyquokka
So, basically, to make sure you're making a good impression, you have to act completely fake and constantly think how others perceive you. The complete opposite worked for me - my life improved significantly in every aspect once I stopped caring how others perceive me.
5288 likes
@rca-in-glasgow6781
I do that all the time. If I meet someone, I immediately take off my sun glasses as a courtesy and sign of respect, because it was taught to me by a very special teacher in junior high school. The response I get is always positive. It’s a bit like the idea that the true value in a hat, is in the act of removing it, not wearing it. 16:16
12 likes
@hollyp9811
I’m 47. I think a lot of holding a good conversation comes with being genuinely interested in that person. Put yourself in their shoes and how they might feel. Ask questions that help you get to know them better. Be an interesting person yourself by being informed about lots of different topics or experiencing lots of different things. Be a good listener, but also know when to share your thoughts, without interrupting them.
124 likes
@TazumiZaiga
I like that Steven is giving some push back and challenges to what Vanessa is saying. I also like how quick she is to have an answer but also willingness to pivot, show that the tools are still relevant and how to adjust to what works.