Last week I had the pleasure of working with the CNN Bookings team on the concept of Personal Branding.
We began with the process of first looking at everyone’s strengths and unique differentiators. One of the most effective ways to do this is look back at what you consider to be your ‘blue chip’ or ‘zone moment,’ a moment of extreme personal pride.
I used Tsunami Sunday as an example. I was the guest booker on call,
Clubbing With The Boys – Networking Tips for Women Networking with Men
Marion M. who is a senior partner at a major business consultancy, was brought up on the dictum that she had to be twice as smart and work twice as hard as her male colleagues. She always worked long hours, and passed on many an invitation to join the guys at the local bar while she stayed on at the office to run the numbers on a pending deal.
Honore De Balzac said: “There is no greater impediment to getting on well with other people, than being ill at ease with yourself.” We live in a world of enormous stress and challenge and all too often, we forget the power of exuding positive energy as a way of attracting business. And sometimes it is easier to act your way to feeling better than to feel your way to acting better.
Have you ever watched 2 young children meet each other for the first time? They are usually introduced, look each other warily up and down for a few seconds and then one says something like “Do you want to go and play on the trampoline?” Sometimes prompted or not it is off they go. Give them exactly 3 minutes and they are chatting and playing away, and within the hour they have become firm friends.
I am writing this while sitting at the O’Hare Chicago airport.
I have just completed a double session with a group of extraordinary, motivated AD Sales professionals.
The focus of the day was Maximizing Presentation Impact and Networking for Success or as I like to say Building Relationships for Career Success.
We started the day focusing on the qualities that make great speakers.
If you really analyze it,
Could you just listen?
When I ask you to listen to you and me start giving me advice,
You have not done what I asked.
When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me
Why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings.
When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do something to solve my problem,
by Don Miguel Ruiz
Be Impeccable with your word
Speak with integrity.
Say only what you mean.
Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.
Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality.
Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.
