The Surprising Habits of Backable People with Suneel Gupta

Conversations

Approaching influential individuals can be daunting, but Suneel Gupta emphasizes the art of asking meaningful questions to build authentic connections. Instead of jumping straight into a pitch, he suggests gathering insights about the person's interests and priorities. This approach not only helps in understanding them better but also sets the stage for a more genuine interaction.

Give me something that's not obviously Googleable.

--- Suneel Gupta

Chris Hutchins agrees, noting the importance of documenting key points from conversations to personalize future interactions 1 2 3.

   

Involving Others

Suneel Gupta shares strategies for involving others in your projects by fostering a sense of ownership. He advocates for shorter presentations that invite discussion, allowing participants to contribute and feel invested in the outcome. This method, akin to the "Ikea Effect," suggests people value what they help create more than what is simply presented to them.

People don't want to be buyers. People ultimately...want to be builders.

--- Suneel Gupta

Gupta illustrates this with a story about a designer who shifted from presenting perfect designs to engaging teams in the creative process, enhancing collaboration and commitment 4 5.