In October I focused heavily on interview strategies  – but what if you aren’t actively job-seeking?  In this article, I’ll demonstrate how the principles I’ve been teaching about interview skills can apply to everyday life.

Practice the skill of visualizing the win. As I described, visualization has some hefty data behind it – so use it everywhere! Imagine the ideal outcome for your day, a work meeting, a difficult phone call, or a family gathering. Visualize what you want in vivid detail, and hold onto that vision as you step into action.

Apply the Who/What/Win framework in professional conversations. When you’re meeting with a boss, a colleague, or a client, ask yourself, What’s important to them? How can I structure our interaction to be a “win” for the other party? Tailoring your communication in this way shows that you’re thoughtful and strategic – with your time and theirs.

Create more peaceful interactions with lessons learned from hostage negotiators. Whether you’re at home or at work, listen and mirror to create a successful outcome for any conversation. First, listen actively (without thinking about what you’re going to say). When the other person has finished speaking, take a deep breath, think about how you’d like to respond, and do so calmly. Mirror their positive body language – nod when they nod, smile when they smile. These tactics help others feel at ease in conversation with you.

Whether you’re an introvert, or not, make a mighty first impression. Whether you’re meeting a new co-worker, interviewing a candidate for a job at your company, or interacting with your child’s new teacher, making a mighty first impression goes a long way. Bring lots of energy to the beginning and ending of first meetings. When you train yourself to light up when you see people, you become even more compelling – people will be drawn to you in an almost magnetic fashion.

As you practice these tools and tactics in your everyday life, you just might find that you’re more confident when the time rolls around to interview for that next dream job – whenever that may be!