Your audience is sitting in their seats, eager to hear your speech. If the first words you utter are entirely predictable and boring- "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today", or you begin using filler words such as, "ah" or "um", you have just dug yourself a hole about 2 feet deep. In a flash, you have lost your credibility as a speaker, or even worse, as an expert in your field. Your audience begins to take a mental exit. If you continue with the tired old "Today I am going to talk to you about point one, point two and point three" your hole is now about 5 feet deep. Pretty hard to climb out of! At this point, you might just be talking to an empty room.
Everyone finds themselves in the position of having to give a presentation now and then. Yet, many are not trained in how to do so. Immediately after being told by their boss that you have to give a presentation, most people begin to create a power point presentation not taking into consideration who their audience is and what they want to see.
Be Audience Centered
Speakers who "WOW" their audiences have one thing in common: P-A-S-S-I-O-N. Stand while giving your speech without reading puts your audience, at times, sitting on the edge of their seats while they hang onto your every word. You need to capture your audience's attention in the first 30-60 seconds.
Ignite Your Audience with Your Introduction
Romancing your audience helps you capture their attention in a short period of time.
Engage Your Audience
Keep your audience focused and engaged. The more you connect with your audience and get them talking and involved the better comprehension and retention they have of you.
Open your speech or presentation by asking a question of your audience immediately. This gets them involved right from the beginning. Resonate questions for each audience you speak in front of.
Prepare questions ahead of time. Ask either rhetorical questions or one that seeks a response from the audience. If you want the audience to respond, make it easy for them to do so. Ask a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No", or call for a show of hands.
As a rule of thumb, always ask two questions.
Tell a Compelling Story
Tell a brief story with key statements under 2 minutes that increases your enthusiasm. Your story must be relevant to a call to action and it should have meaning to your audience. Connect and resonate with your audience by selecting a story based on the goal of making your story their story.
End with a compelling call to action: What do you want your audience to do next?
The next time your audience are sitting in their seats, eager to hear your speech or presentation, remember to capture their attention and get the results you want. Bring out your energy and of course your passion for the subject matter your are speaking about.
No audience member was ever disappointed by a speaker who was interesting. Do not fall into the trap of being boring. Grab your audience with a compelling opening and you will have the best chance of making a positive lasting impression. Instead of people yawning, squirming in their seats, or looking down when you give your speech or presentation, you want your audience to sing your praises every time you speak to a client or conduct a meeting. Well, get ready to set the room on fire after you speak with presence.
Good luck.
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you move forward, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email to nburgis@successful-solutions.com.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks for Growth
In building your Pyramid of Success, your building blocks need to be strong for your beliefs and mindset. This is where your self-satisfaction takes control. But this is just the beginning.
"If you can believe, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets off the launching pad." - DenisWaitley
In creating your path to success, there is no magic formula to your success only that it is yours. To help you begin your journey, think about the following tips:
Definition of Success: Imagine for a moment being inspired by being a success on your terms. Success on your terms is what you decide it is. This is your own path or formula for your own unique success.
Where are you Now? What are your strengths? What is working and what is working well?
Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? What is important to you? What are you passionate about?
Interpersonal Skills: 85% of success depends on your people skills (according to Stanford, Harvard and the Carnegie Institute of Technology).
Success is the result of setting goals taking the appropriate actions to achieve those goals.
Take Some Risk: Explore the risks, obstacles, or challenges and work around or through them to get where you want to go. If you fail, call it a learning experience as others have done such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
Take Action: Create a plan of action to help move you forward. Take consistent and persistent action. Remember what Napoleon Hill said, "If you can conceive something in your mind, and believe it to be true, then you can achieve it."
"If you can believe, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets off the launching pad." - DenisWaitley
In creating your path to success, there is no magic formula to your success only that it is yours. To help you begin your journey, think about the following tips:
Definition of Success: Imagine for a moment being inspired by being a success on your terms. Success on your terms is what you decide it is. This is your own path or formula for your own unique success.
Where are you Now? What are your strengths? What is working and what is working well?
Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? What is important to you? What are you passionate about?
Interpersonal Skills: 85% of success depends on your people skills (according to Stanford, Harvard and the Carnegie Institute of Technology).
Success is the result of setting goals taking the appropriate actions to achieve those goals.
Take Some Risk: Explore the risks, obstacles, or challenges and work around or through them to get where you want to go. If you fail, call it a learning experience as others have done such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
Take Action: Create a plan of action to help move you forward. Take consistent and persistent action. Remember what Napoleon Hill said, "If you can conceive something in your mind, and believe it to be true, then you can achieve it."
Success in life comes from satisfaction in your achievements.
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you move forward, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
How Many Invisible Employees Do You Work With?
Wouldn't it be great if your company were filled with visible, productive employees- people who were excited to go to work? Many successful organizations are filled with visible, productive employees do their jobs well and love what they do. But, there is a crisis in business today: The Invisible Employee.
Accordingly, 40% of employees are disengaged if their managers ignore them. But it makes you wonder who the other 60% are! The basic invisible employee rationale goes something like this: Why bother shining when no one notices your achievements? Why exert yourself when you could very well be in the next batch of layoffs? So, just keep your head down and never do more than is asked of you.
The Invisible Employee book written by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton found that 25% of employees are driven to tears and 50% being verbally abused due to expressing their feelings of being unappreciated and that their innovative ideas being ignored by their employers.
Employees are quietly looking for some signal of recognition and receiving none. This issue has caused a lot of frustration, unhappiness and large employee turnovers. People want to feel recognized, and to feel important and needed. Some employees feel that since their bosses do not recognize them, they feel they fade into the woodwork or wallpaper- "out of sight, out of mind".
One employee had this experience: "I remember watching a manager holding an important conversation on his cell phone in my office. He rifled through some of the files I had been working on. He made no eye-contact with me during the 20 minutes he was on the phone. When he finished his call, my desk looked like a mess where my files were in piles that I now have to waste time going through what files I had worked on for my review.
Managers and other executives need to transforming their team from the ordinary to the extraordinary by:
Accordingly, 40% of employees are disengaged if their managers ignore them. But it makes you wonder who the other 60% are! The basic invisible employee rationale goes something like this: Why bother shining when no one notices your achievements? Why exert yourself when you could very well be in the next batch of layoffs? So, just keep your head down and never do more than is asked of you.
The Invisible Employee book written by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton found that 25% of employees are driven to tears and 50% being verbally abused due to expressing their feelings of being unappreciated and that their innovative ideas being ignored by their employers.
Employees are quietly looking for some signal of recognition and receiving none. This issue has caused a lot of frustration, unhappiness and large employee turnovers. People want to feel recognized, and to feel important and needed. Some employees feel that since their bosses do not recognize them, they feel they fade into the woodwork or wallpaper- "out of sight, out of mind".
One employee had this experience: "I remember watching a manager holding an important conversation on his cell phone in my office. He rifled through some of the files I had been working on. He made no eye-contact with me during the 20 minutes he was on the phone. When he finished his call, my desk looked like a mess where my files were in piles that I now have to waste time going through what files I had worked on for my review.
Managers and other executives need to transforming their team from the ordinary to the extraordinary by:
- Setting a Guiding Vision of each employee and of the organization
- Meet with your employees in small groups
- Identify employee achievements that move the organization toward its goals
- Celebrate those achievements
Celebrate each quarter birthdays, hiring dates, specific productivity goals, etc.
As a result, your organization will have productive employees, who feel noticed, valued and appreciated.
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you move forward, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Introverts Acting as If they were Extroverts
Since moving out of working in computer technology and into the business world, Paul Erhardt struggled with his introversion because social interactions are so different for him. Over time, Paul became known as a "closet extrovert" because when he brings up a business topic for discussion, his department ends up talking about it for hours. That is because Paul typically does not talk much but when he does ask a question, it is thought provoking and so profound that no one thought of it before Paul.
Think of this, you are watching a movie and your favorite actor or actress is playing the lead. Most actors and actresses are introverted. If they can play a role while acting the part, you can try this for short periods of time as well. Gradually stretch your comfort zone slightly, even though you will probably feel uncomfortable at first, but you will get the hang of it.
As William Shakespeare wrote, "All the World's a Stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and entrances; And one man in time plays many parts...", introverts can also play parts as well. They just have to want to, know the risks, and feel comfortable shifting gears. This is what many "Social Introverts" or "Extroverted-Introverts" go through depending onwho they feel comfortable with and where.
Acting extroverted makes people happier, suggests researcher William Fleeson, associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, who published his study in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. Fleeson found that, "When introverted people were asked to rate their levels of extroverted behavior and their mood at the end of each week for 10 weeks, the results suggested a strong connection between acting extroverted and greater happiness. If people want to be happier and choose to act more outgoing, adventurous or assertive, then they have the power to directly improve their own well being."
Deborah Torres Patel wrote: "Acting as if simply means living with confidence...It means that you do not have to be perfect. It means that you can model someone you think is extraordinary and act as if they would in that situation.
Act as if:
Think of this, you are watching a movie and your favorite actor or actress is playing the lead. Most actors and actresses are introverted. If they can play a role while acting the part, you can try this for short periods of time as well. Gradually stretch your comfort zone slightly, even though you will probably feel uncomfortable at first, but you will get the hang of it.
As William Shakespeare wrote, "All the World's a Stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and entrances; And one man in time plays many parts...", introverts can also play parts as well. They just have to want to, know the risks, and feel comfortable shifting gears. This is what many "Social Introverts" or "Extroverted-Introverts" go through depending onwho they feel comfortable with and where.
Acting extroverted makes people happier, suggests researcher William Fleeson, associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, who published his study in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. Fleeson found that, "When introverted people were asked to rate their levels of extroverted behavior and their mood at the end of each week for 10 weeks, the results suggested a strong connection between acting extroverted and greater happiness. If people want to be happier and choose to act more outgoing, adventurous or assertive, then they have the power to directly improve their own well being."
Deborah Torres Patel wrote: "Acting as if simply means living with confidence...It means that you do not have to be perfect. It means that you can model someone you think is extraordinary and act as if they would in that situation.
Act as if:
- You are fearless
- You know exactly what you are doing
- You are the most successful person in the room
- You have spoken to larger crowds many times before
- You did not bother to prepare notes because your excellent messages comes straight from your heart
By changing your introverted behavior, extroverted behaviors seem to have a positive impact on you as you probably prefer having more of an extroverted type of lifestyle than your own.
When you walk into a room and scan for a familiar face, you realize you do not see anyone you know. Do not panic. So, instead of acting as if you are the life of the party, and you do not have to be a wallflower either, introduce yourself to someone and begin a conversation with them. Remember to use open-ended questions.
There is still an introvert-extrovert gap, but this way, many introverts can feel less nervoius or anxious about interacting with others. The only issue may be is how or where else do I get started on the rest of my introversion?
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you move forward professionally and personally, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email at nburgis@successful-solutions.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
How Your Personality Impacts Business & Your Career
Imagine working in a career that matches your personality preferences to the work you do. You would be happy and productive in your career. Instead of being hired because a position opened up and you would be doing the same thing every day- for many that would be boring or too routine- you actually work in a job you love because it fits you.
Before working your first job, you were probably told that if you work hard, follow the rules and stay focused you will be successful. Wait a minute. Most of the working world does basically the same and hate what they do for a living. Everyone has certain preferences and attributes that affects their likes, dislikes and motivation. When you pursue a career that does not fit your personality type, no matter how strong your skills may be you will eventually struggle to stay motivated.
If you work in a career that does not suit your personality type and provide some sense of personal fulfillment, you will constantly struggle to stay motivated and enthusiastic about your job. In other words, you may perform your job in a satisfactory manner, but you probably hate it and to force yourself to meet your job requirements.
On the other hand, if you work in a career that fits your personality type, you will have far fewer difficulties staying motivated, fulfilling your responsibilities and feeling satisfied with your job.You may even love what you do.
Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., authors of the "50 Best Jobs for Your Personality", stated, "A person's personality type play one of the most indicative roles in how much he or she will enjoy their job and get along withtheir colleagues."
Shatkin goes on to say, "People who have a certain personality feels more capable of doing certain things; they feel more accepted when they are among people with personalities similar to their own. People want to feel that they fit in with the people and activities where they work."
Some people use their personality preferences in their careers while at the same time are matched well for the work they do.
The Mcfletcher Corporation, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, consult using their Work-Style Patterns Inventory (WSP) that is a self-scoring assessment tool that helps clarify individual preferences that determines what makes work worthwhile for individual members. The WSP affirms each employee has a preference approach to work and each work environment requires a certain approach to attain team and organization goals. By bringing these approaches into alignment, organizations and their teams increase efficiency and individual employees enjoy greater fulfillment.
Knowing your personality type, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is another way to understand where your personality preferences fit within careers. It is designed to identify your personality preferences and how you relate to the world around you. The result of taking this assessment gives you a 4 letter code either starting with "E" for Extrovert or "I" for Introvert. From there it is to "help you improve your work and personal relationships, increase productivity, and identify leadership and interpersonal communication preferences. (Some prefer to use the Jung Typology Test found on www.humanmetrics.com)
Before working your first job, you were probably told that if you work hard, follow the rules and stay focused you will be successful. Wait a minute. Most of the working world does basically the same and hate what they do for a living. Everyone has certain preferences and attributes that affects their likes, dislikes and motivation. When you pursue a career that does not fit your personality type, no matter how strong your skills may be you will eventually struggle to stay motivated.
If you work in a career that does not suit your personality type and provide some sense of personal fulfillment, you will constantly struggle to stay motivated and enthusiastic about your job. In other words, you may perform your job in a satisfactory manner, but you probably hate it and to force yourself to meet your job requirements.
On the other hand, if you work in a career that fits your personality type, you will have far fewer difficulties staying motivated, fulfilling your responsibilities and feeling satisfied with your job.You may even love what you do.
Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., authors of the "50 Best Jobs for Your Personality", stated, "A person's personality type play one of the most indicative roles in how much he or she will enjoy their job and get along withtheir colleagues."
Shatkin goes on to say, "People who have a certain personality feels more capable of doing certain things; they feel more accepted when they are among people with personalities similar to their own. People want to feel that they fit in with the people and activities where they work."
Some people use their personality preferences in their careers while at the same time are matched well for the work they do.
The Mcfletcher Corporation, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, consult using their Work-Style Patterns Inventory (WSP) that is a self-scoring assessment tool that helps clarify individual preferences that determines what makes work worthwhile for individual members. The WSP affirms each employee has a preference approach to work and each work environment requires a certain approach to attain team and organization goals. By bringing these approaches into alignment, organizations and their teams increase efficiency and individual employees enjoy greater fulfillment.
Knowing your personality type, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is another way to understand where your personality preferences fit within careers. It is designed to identify your personality preferences and how you relate to the world around you. The result of taking this assessment gives you a 4 letter code either starting with "E" for Extrovert or "I" for Introvert. From there it is to "help you improve your work and personal relationships, increase productivity, and identify leadership and interpersonal communication preferences. (Some prefer to use the Jung Typology Test found on www.humanmetrics.com)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Executives Who are Introverted and Thriving
As wallflowers of the world unite, most people really know that quiet smarts come from introverts and closet introverts have populated the highest corporate offices as 4 out of 10 of the top executives tend to be introverts. Many high-powered executives are running small, medium and large companies using the unique characteristics only introverts have. They take advantage and leverage their strengths and several know that many of their weaknesses are their strengths. That is what drives their motivation and moves them forward.
Jennifer Kahnweiler found that 40% of professionals say they would like to change their introverted tendencies , but do not know how or where to begin. The good news is that introversion can be managed.
Most people do not know that Brett is an introvert. At some point after being promoted into an executive position, Brett was misunderstood because of his quiet temperament. When asked about this by another colleague, he told them that he is more of an introvert than an extrovert. He has the leadership qualities to move his team forward in the projects and tasks they are assigned. As a quiet leader, Brett demonstrated his worth and contributions as he was promoted 2 years later to a higher position- president of the company.
You can have excellent leaders who are introverted and still know how to move an organization forward with his or her unique skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interest and passion. These basics for the introverted leader are more powerful and influential to getting things done than most extroverts think. Underneath it all, I found that some extroverted leaders are beginning to look at and take a page from introverted quiet leaders and find that they are producing higher rates than extroverted leaders.
Remember that introverts prefer to be prepared before going into meetings and do not like to be put on the spot for any reason, prefer to think things through, tend to be very good listeners, and often do not reveal much of themselves to others. To understand what an introvert is thinking you have to ask them, as they rarely volunteer information unless you ask them.
There is no magic pill or formula to swallow to change introverts instantly into an extrovert. So make the best of being an introvert and go beyond surviving and thrive in whatever you do to move yourself forward in your professional and personal life.
What is your take on an Introvert Leader who is able to get more done than an extroverted leader?
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email us at nburgis@successful-solutions.com
Jennifer Kahnweiler found that 40% of professionals say they would like to change their introverted tendencies , but do not know how or where to begin. The good news is that introversion can be managed.
Most people do not know that Brett is an introvert. At some point after being promoted into an executive position, Brett was misunderstood because of his quiet temperament. When asked about this by another colleague, he told them that he is more of an introvert than an extrovert. He has the leadership qualities to move his team forward in the projects and tasks they are assigned. As a quiet leader, Brett demonstrated his worth and contributions as he was promoted 2 years later to a higher position- president of the company.
You can have excellent leaders who are introverted and still know how to move an organization forward with his or her unique skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interest and passion. These basics for the introverted leader are more powerful and influential to getting things done than most extroverts think. Underneath it all, I found that some extroverted leaders are beginning to look at and take a page from introverted quiet leaders and find that they are producing higher rates than extroverted leaders.
Remember that introverts prefer to be prepared before going into meetings and do not like to be put on the spot for any reason, prefer to think things through, tend to be very good listeners, and often do not reveal much of themselves to others. To understand what an introvert is thinking you have to ask them, as they rarely volunteer information unless you ask them.
There is no magic pill or formula to swallow to change introverts instantly into an extrovert. So make the best of being an introvert and go beyond surviving and thrive in whatever you do to move yourself forward in your professional and personal life.
What is your take on an Introvert Leader who is able to get more done than an extroverted leader?
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, contact us at 602-405-2540 or email us at nburgis@successful-solutions.com
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sparking the Quiet Leader Revolution
There is no need to seed the quiet revolution because it is already here and will only continue with introverts who want to be leaders in small, medium and large companies and they have the know-how to get to the C-suite.
The quiet revolution may not be a new item coming out into the marketplace, or a new program just beginning. It is all around you as more and more introverts begin to step out of their shells and stretch more of their comfort zone because they want more out of life than just staying still where they are. They look to move themselves forward in their professional and personal lives because they know they can take on more than what the myths and misconceptions told them they cannot do.
As a quiet leader, you may not be charismatic, loudly outspoken, or even an outgoing party person, but you know how to leverage your skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interests and passion into what you do well. Quiet leaders do not talk a blue streak, but when they do speak, they are typically insightful, and have lots of wisdom to the extent that it is profound and relevant to get others to think about the specific project or tasks they are working on .
If you are an introvert, and you are a leaderwhere you Dare to be Different, take advantage and leverage your strengths. Remember, many of your weaknesses can work for you as your strengths. Do not overlook them. You have unique characteristics to help you successfully thrive on.
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, contact us at 602-405-2540 or at nburgis@successful-solutions.com.
The quiet revolution may not be a new item coming out into the marketplace, or a new program just beginning. It is all around you as more and more introverts begin to step out of their shells and stretch more of their comfort zone because they want more out of life than just staying still where they are. They look to move themselves forward in their professional and personal lives because they know they can take on more than what the myths and misconceptions told them they cannot do.
As a quiet leader, you may not be charismatic, loudly outspoken, or even an outgoing party person, but you know how to leverage your skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interests and passion into what you do well. Quiet leaders do not talk a blue streak, but when they do speak, they are typically insightful, and have lots of wisdom to the extent that it is profound and relevant to get others to think about the specific project or tasks they are working on .
If you are an introvert, and you are a leaderwhere you Dare to be Different, take advantage and leverage your strengths. Remember, many of your weaknesses can work for you as your strengths. Do not overlook them. You have unique characteristics to help you successfully thrive on.
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, contact us at 602-405-2540 or at nburgis@successful-solutions.com.
Introverted Lawyers
Brian Anderson considers himself as an introvert even though he has been a lawyer for the last 12 years. Talking with him outside the courthouse, you can see that Brian is an introvert. But once he walks through the doors of the courthouse, it is as if Brian's personality changed and he becomes an extrovert. This is what is known as being an "Ambivert" or "Social Introvert". Brian takes on the role of lawyer more so when he presents his case in court. He knows how to prepare for the case, what points he wants to highlight, and he is very good at giving his opening and closing remarks.
Accordingly, lawyer's are ranked 6th of Best Jobs for Introverts, and most lawyers agree that they are introverted. Studies show that 54-69% of lawyers are introverts. Trial lawyers, litigators, and prosecutors mediators tend to be extroverts. Family lawyers, mediators and estate planners tend to be introverts.
Since lawyers typically are salespeople, many do not understand that they have to sell to get new clients. For introverted lawyers, they need to discover how they can effectively drum up business and first understand their reluctance to sell.
Many people do not realize what a critical role introversion and extroversion issues play in their job satisfaction and job effectiveness. Introverted lawyers have unique characteristics to help move themselves forward, but they need to identify these traits and work at bringing them out.
www.successful-solutions.com
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how I can help you, contact me at: 602-405-2540, or email me at: nburgis@successful-solutions.com
Accordingly, lawyer's are ranked 6th of Best Jobs for Introverts, and most lawyers agree that they are introverted. Studies show that 54-69% of lawyers are introverts. Trial lawyers, litigators, and prosecutors mediators tend to be extroverts. Family lawyers, mediators and estate planners tend to be introverts.
Since lawyers typically are salespeople, many do not understand that they have to sell to get new clients. For introverted lawyers, they need to discover how they can effectively drum up business and first understand their reluctance to sell.
Many people do not realize what a critical role introversion and extroversion issues play in their job satisfaction and job effectiveness. Introverted lawyers have unique characteristics to help move themselves forward, but they need to identify these traits and work at bringing them out.
www.successful-solutions.com
For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how I can help you, contact me at: 602-405-2540, or email me at: nburgis@successful-solutions.com
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Working the Room as You Mingle with Others
You received an invitation to a business event and you are not sure that you really want to go. If you do not go, you could miss out on an opportunity to win over a new client. If you do attend, you have to network with other people and possibly feel uncomfortable doing so as you are an introvert.
Well, just last week you went to a workshop on leveraging your skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interests and passions when you network with others. This event you are invited to gives you the opportunity to leverage what you have learned. But first, set a goal of meeting at least 3-5 people. That may seem to be a big task, but by using a few open-ended questions, you get to take the focus off of you and put onto the person you are talking to. Also, this may get you some business.
Remember, you are not alone as this same scenario is taking place with many others like you across the country. Networking is not a competition of who collects the most business cards. It is about developing lasting relationships.
You may even find other introverts who either prefer to interact in small conversations with other people, or others who blend in with the wallpaper. Strike up a conversation with someone who looks lost and uncomfortable. They may welcome the company of a fellow introvert.
When you use common sense in approaching others you do not know, again put the focus on them not on yourself by asking open-ended questions. For example, after you introduce yourself, ask questions you feel comfortable that you write out.
In Summary:
1. Set a goal of talking to 3-5 people
2. Break the ice by introducing yourself
3. Maintain good eye-contact
4. Act confident: No one wants to network with a person who lacks confidence
5. Play to your strengths
6. Ask open-ended questions and actively listen
7. Reward yourself afterwards
Well, just last week you went to a workshop on leveraging your skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interests and passions when you network with others. This event you are invited to gives you the opportunity to leverage what you have learned. But first, set a goal of meeting at least 3-5 people. That may seem to be a big task, but by using a few open-ended questions, you get to take the focus off of you and put onto the person you are talking to. Also, this may get you some business.
Remember, you are not alone as this same scenario is taking place with many others like you across the country. Networking is not a competition of who collects the most business cards. It is about developing lasting relationships.
You may even find other introverts who either prefer to interact in small conversations with other people, or others who blend in with the wallpaper. Strike up a conversation with someone who looks lost and uncomfortable. They may welcome the company of a fellow introvert.
When you use common sense in approaching others you do not know, again put the focus on them not on yourself by asking open-ended questions. For example, after you introduce yourself, ask questions you feel comfortable that you write out.
In Summary:
1. Set a goal of talking to 3-5 people
2. Break the ice by introducing yourself
3. Maintain good eye-contact
4. Act confident: No one wants to network with a person who lacks confidence
5. Play to your strengths
6. Ask open-ended questions and actively listen
7. Reward yourself afterwards
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Introverted Blind Spots: Recognizing What You Are Not Doing
Typically, people do not recognize if they are not be going in the right direction before its too late if at all. Some do not even recognize or do not want to see what others think or feel about what is going on. These same people also do not want any feedback from anyone.
Introverts do not really see their own strengths and blind spots. Most introverts do not know their strengths or weaknesses, especially when many of their unique weak characteristics are their strengths.
Johar's Window was created with Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955 as 4 quadrants of interpersonal knowledge of yourself and others. These include: Open, Blind, Hidden, and Unknown. The following breaks down each quadrant and let you know what takes place within each.
1. The "open" quadrant represents things that both I know about myself, and that you know about me.
2. The "blind" quadrant represents things that you know about me, but that I am unaware of.
3. The "hidden" quadrant represents that I know about myself that you do not know.
4. The "unknown" quadrant represent things that neither I know about myself, nor you know about me.
Once you have determined your personality type, you need to be aware not only of your strengths, but especially your blind spots.
Identify your strengths and weakness and then look at your preferences. How do you work with what you have and how can improve what you are lacking or missing?
Introverts do not really see their own strengths and blind spots. Most introverts do not know their strengths or weaknesses, especially when many of their unique weak characteristics are their strengths.
Johar's Window was created with Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955 as 4 quadrants of interpersonal knowledge of yourself and others. These include: Open, Blind, Hidden, and Unknown. The following breaks down each quadrant and let you know what takes place within each.
1. The "open" quadrant represents things that both I know about myself, and that you know about me.
2. The "blind" quadrant represents things that you know about me, but that I am unaware of.
3. The "hidden" quadrant represents that I know about myself that you do not know.
4. The "unknown" quadrant represent things that neither I know about myself, nor you know about me.
Once you have determined your personality type, you need to be aware not only of your strengths, but especially your blind spots.
Identify your strengths and weakness and then look at your preferences. How do you work with what you have and how can improve what you are lacking or missing?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
