Ankur Warikoo’s 5 Psychological Hacks for Enhanced Workplace Performance

In a recent LinkedIn post, Ankur Warikoo discusses five psychological hacks designed to sharpen individuals’ performance and interpersonal skills in a professional setting. Warikoo, a prominent business figure and thought leader, shared these actionable strategies to help professionals navigate workplace dynamics more effectively and foster stronger connections.

Managing Nervousness and Maintaining Composure

One of the key challenges in professional environments is managing nervousness, especially before significant events like meetings or presentations. Ankur Warikoo offers a simple yet effective technique for this:

When nervous, chew gum. It tricks your brain into thinking you’re relaxed. You wouldn’t be eating if you were in danger!

Warikoo elaborates that this physiological response helps to signal safety to the brain, thereby reducing anxiety. For those who cannot chew gum, he suggests an alternative: deep breathing. As he notes, performing deep breaths seven times before a high-stakes interaction can effectively reset the nervous system, promoting a calm and steady demeanor.

Decoding Non-Verbal Cues with Foot Direction

Understanding non-verbal communication is crucial for effective engagement. Warikoo highlights a subtle yet powerful cue: the direction of people’s feet in group settings. According to him, the orientation of feet can reveal a person’s level of engagement or readiness to disengage.

In a group, feet pointing towards you means they’re engaged. Pointing away means they’re ready to move on.

This insight, as Warikoo points out, allows professionals to gauge the room’s energy and adjust their approach accordingly. He advises that when interest appears to be waning, one should consider pivoting the conversation or bringing another participant into the discussion to maintain engagement.

Building Rapport Through Body Language Mirroring

Connection is a cornerstone of successful professional relationships. Warikoo emphasizes the power of mirroring body language, distinguishing it from mere mimicry. He argues that synchronizing one’s physical demeanor with that of another person can significantly accelerate rapport-building.

People connect faster when they feel in sync.

As Warikoo explains, this involves subtle adjustments, such as moderating one’s vocal tone to match a calmer counterpart or mirroring enthusiasm when appropriate. The goal, he suggests, is to create a sense of shared experience and understanding, fostering a stronger connection.

The Strategic Advantage of Asking for Advice

Warikoo also delves into the art of making requests, advocating for a specific approach that leverages psychological principles. He suggests that asking for advice is often more effective than directly asking for help.

Why Advice Trumps Help

According to Ankur Warikoo, this strategy works because it appeals to an individual’s sense of expertise and value. By seeking advice, one implicitly acknowledges the other person’s knowledge and experience, which can be highly validating. Warikoo states:

Advice appeals to their expertise, shifts the dynamic, and builds trust faster than a plain request.

This approach not only makes the recipient feel more valued but also encourages a more collaborative and trust-based interaction.

The Lasting Impact of Positive Interaction Endings

Finally, Warikoo highlights the importance of concluding interactions on a memorable and positive note. He stresses that the emotional residue of an interaction often has a more significant impact than the specific details discussed.

Warikoo provides examples of effective closing statements, such as expressing gratitude for clarity or appreciation for time. As he concludes in his post:

People remember how you made them feel, not the details of the meeting.

This final piece of advice underscores the significance of emotional intelligence in professional communication, suggesting that cultivating positive feelings can lead to stronger, more lasting professional relationships.