Yes, guys still talk like that… Maybe you’ve been focused on the news from Washington D.C. and the campaign trail. Maybe the war in Iraq has captured your attention. Or maybe you’ve been tuned out altogether and focused on your own life! It’s easy to miss what goes on in the rest of the world, and I almost did. Then a story in The Athletic caught my eye. And made me mad. It was another one of those did-this-really-happen moments. Yes, it did really happen.
Wanna Play? The workshop had barely started, and already it struck fear in my heart. Improv requires two main skills, we heard. Listen. And Play. Yikes! Oh, listening? No problem. People tell me all the time what a good listener I am. And no wonder. I’ve worked for years to cultivate that—I know you’ve heard me talk about how important listening is in business (and life!) and how we can get better at it.
Play? That’s another story. I can’t do that!
Your professional look – Are you smiling in your profile picture? Think about your LinkedIn page. Or your website. When we land there, do we see you with a warm, welcoming smile on your face? Here’s the TL;DR … we probably should. And that’s not just my opinion. There’s research behind it. Photofeeler analyzed millions of profile pictures across dating, social, and business tests. They compared open-mouth smiles, closed-mouth smiles, and non-smiling expressions, of the sort many people adopt for a business photo. The idea was to determine how each look affected a viewer’s impression of the person in the picture. How did that individual rate for attractiveness, trustworthiness, confidence, likability, and competence?
Keep the Ball Rolling – There I was in the fitness center at my new home, thinking about you. You might know I’ve just moved out of my Chicago bungalow after 42 years (!) and into an apartment in a beautiful suburban building. I’m eager to get to know my new neighbors. That’s why I was so happy to chat with one of those neighbors when I got on the elliptical machine next to his. I could tell you a lot about Harold—when he moved in, where he lived before, where each of his kids lives, which part of the year he’s here and when he leaves for a warmer spot, how old he is, and … well, you get the idea. What do you suppose Harold knows about me after our chat on the elliptical machines? That’s right. Nothing. Harold forgot about taking turns.
Genuine Connection in a Digital World. “It’s as much about the energy you project as it is about the content of what you say,” said a wise woman. Oh wait, that wise woman was me! And I said it on Thought Leaders Talk Business, the podcast Debbie Fliehman hosts.
Debbie and I had a terrific conversation about a huge challenge for professional people, whether we labor for a multinational corporation, a small local business, or hang out a shingle on our own. How do we communicate with authenticity and impact in an increasingly virtual world?
