Should I or Shouldn't I?

It is all in our perception!

It could be you’re deciding to accept that ideal job with a long commute OR debating if you should go sightseeing on vacation in the rain.

When deciding, to do or not to do, thoughts are typically focused on what might happen or what you’re not going to like about it. The final decision affects both the experience you have and the perception you create for your brand.

An experience that got me thinking about perceptions happened last week when my friend Jane sent a message letting me know she cancelled our foursome’s golf reservation for the following day. Reason - the weather reports were predicting a 70% chance of rain!

This is not typical behavior for Jane so I wondered why she was being so cautious and conservative. Why not just take our chances? What was it about the chance of rain that made her cancel?        

This conversation led to even more thinking. The same weekend my oldest son, Eric, considered backing out of a two-day outdoor concert with all of his buddies because they were calling for rain. 

It surprised me because Eric is not typically cautious or reluctant. He is the one that jumps in and thinks later. The prediction of rain almost kept him from having, what he now describes as, the time of his life.

What about me…

I am not always up for anything nor am I always care free. I am typically in for following through on a plan, having a good time, going with the flow and am willing to risk less than perfect weather conditions for friends and being outdoors. 

That said, even though typically I am up for an adventure, often I will decide not to participate when friends call at the last minute. What perception does that create about MY brand that isn’t typical? What am I focusing on? (Psst...it's the effort!) 

What I learned… 

Even though the rain held off and we could have played it was not Jane’s intention to be overly cautious by canceling golf. But, with one decision involving three other women, she demonstrated a side of herself that likes to play it safe. 

When Eric considered backing out of going to an outdoor concert Kyle, his younger brother, helped him see that getting wet was no big deal compared to the fun he would have. It did rain. He did get wet. It was not a big deal and he had a blast!

My lack of spontaneity has me out of alignment with my sense of adventure. I am working on jumping in because when I do I NEVER find myself saying, “I wish I would have stayed home.”  

When you make your next decision, be it big or small, consider the pros and cons. Also consider the impact on your brand and the message you deliver. Consistency is key to building trust and credibility in all parts of your life.

What are you focused on when you are making your decisions? How comfortable are you with risk? Does it align with who you really are or want to be? Are the decisions you make in alignment with your personal brand? 

What do you focus on when making a decision? Share your decision-making habits or strategy in the comments below.

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Dorothy Lazovik is President of Authentic Leader’s Edge. She is a Personal Brand Strategist, trainer, speaker and coach. Interested in learning more and wanting to connect with Dorothy you can at www.authenticleadersedge.com.

Looking Beyond The Clothes

Presenting yourself to create the impression you desire, before you even say a word, involves several key elements that goes beyond your clothing. You may not consciously be aware of these elements, but they definitely influence how you are perceived.

NOTE: To provide help in the clothes you wear the previous post lists five tips to keep in mind when choosing your clothes to ensure you deliver the message you intend.

Have you ever experienced being in a room full of people when one person walks in and captures your attention? Then you find yourself observing this person and feeling a bit like you want what they have. However, when you are pressed to identify what has captured your attention you’re unsure how to articulate what ‘it’ is. 

The Observation

The first thing that catches your eye is how well dressed this person is. Then you observe the ease with which this person moves around the room and engages in conversation with others. You would describe this person as confident, savvy, smart, professional, engaging and trustworthy. 

WAIT! You got all that just from observation? What you really want to pin point now is the specific behaviour this person demonstrates and what it is they are doing that you want to do.

Breaking IT Down

To make the invisible visible let's consciously breakdown the cues this person is using to stand out in a crowd so you too can apply them:

¬ Wear clothes that look good and fit well. Dress for the level of success you want. Not sure if your clothes are suited to your aspirations? Ask a trusted friend or sales person at your favourite retail store who's style you admire. Ask the right people to get the feedback that supports you.

¬ Carry yourself with confidence. That means head up and shoulders back. No one gets a thumbs up when they walk into a room looking shy or nervous with their head down and their shoulders slumped.

¬ Initiate a handshake and introduce yourself instead of waiting for others. Make sure it is a firm handshake to reflect confidence.

¬ Make eye contact when introducing yourself or in conversation with others. This is important to create a connection and build trust.

¬ Be fully present. The greatest gift you can give others is to be focused and fully committed to the conversation you are engaged in. Giving your complete attention makes others feel respected. If you are preoccupied mentally others will feel it.

¬ Approach situations with a positive attitude. Use language that is uplifting and stay open to  ideas that are discussed.

¬ Manage your energy. Showing up rested and energized makes you more appealing. People want to be around others that are positive and engaged in life. It is inspiring.

To increase the impact of your brand presence and get noticed, consider being more conscious of the seven different elements listed above.  Notice how others respond to you. Please share how implementing any of the above elements has changed the response you have get from others. 

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Dorothy Lazovik is President of Authentic Leader’s Edge. She is a Personal Brand Strategist, trainer, speaker and coach. Interested in learning more and wanting to connect with Dorothy you can at www.authenticleadersedge.com.

What Is Your Phone Impression?

Several months ago I was testing a new web product. My goal was to learn all the features and get very comfortable with the operations of it. To build my confidence I asked a few friends to participate in some live practice runs. After a few live runs I needed some clarification on several features from a tech expert.

I called to speak live with a tech person and a young guy answered who immediately put me at ease. He spoke clearly, introduced himself and asked how he could help. I launched directly into asking my questions.

Before jumping in he asked if I was close to a computer so he could walk me through how the features worked. WOW! I felt like this guy could read my mind! This is exactly what I needed.

He patiently talked me through each step, answering my questions and explaining how to perform the tasks. I felt he was really listening to me and was fully present. That's not all! He went on to ask if I wanted to learn about a few other features that may be important to me. Are you kidding? YES! Of course at the end of our conversation I expressed my appreciation for all his help.

I realize that his level of patience helped me to focus on learning the new skill versus being overly concerned about how long it was taking.

Armed with this new knowledge and confidence I got back online to perform another test run. Different issues surfaced though without hesitation I made a call for help. This time there was a woman who answered the phone. She was a bit difficult to understand and spoke as if she was in a hurry.

She started off by asking me some qualifying questions. Unable to initially locate my account information she became agitated and impatient which was reflected in her tone. She abruptly put me on hold for what seemed like long periods of time. Of course this limited any possibility to build a connection. Once she retrieved my account information her tone did not change.

I asked my first question and she answered by providing me with a web page that I could go to after we got off the phone. My next and final question could only be answered by setting up an online meeting. Instead of allowing me to practice my skills she took control of performing the steps that again emphasized her impatience.

Did she help me understand how to perform the task in question? Yes!

Was there a better way to help me and feel valued as a customer? Definitely! 

Before we hung up she repeatedly asked me, in a very condescending tone, if I was sure I didn't  have any other questions she could help me with? When I hung up there was a sense of relief.

Same company, two very different experiences. Hmmm...

Was answering my questions the only thing that was important?

What is the experience you want to create for others when speaking on the phone?

When you answer your phone do you give the person on the other end your full attention or are you distracted by others things?

Next time you answer your phone; whether it is a call from your boss, a peer, a friend or your child, give thought to the experience you want to create for the person on the other end. Take the time to be present, if not, let it go to your voice mail!

GET REAL MOMENTS: Providing the opportunity to learn from our lives if we are paying attention.

• Being present is the best way to show respect for the other person and let them know they matter.

• Speaking clearly makes it easier for people to listen and for you to be understood.

• Active listening helps you to potentially exceed the needs of the other person and serve them in a bigger way.

• Adding value by teaching what you know for the benefit of others, not showing them what you know. 

Align yourself with what what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to achieve outstanding results!