How to project certainty and look intelligently curois
Picture this. . . You’re in a business meeting and we can freeze time at a random moment. Images of every person in the meeting, at that moment, are displayed on a screen in front of the room. What would your image convey about you?
Assuming you were not speaking at the moment I’d suggest you would want to be perceived as being intelligently curious and engaged. Let me explain that.
Often in meetings I attend many people are displaying behaviours that would not be perceived as being intelligently curious and engaged. That is, they’re playing with their iPhones, or grooming their cuticles or stroking their hair or looking disgruntled etc. In effect, they’re leaving negative impressions.
People can fall into the trap of falsely assuming that if they’re not speaking/interacting in a meeting – that they’re not leaving impressions. This is often the reason for the above behaviours. If people could see live footage of themselves (that other people can readily see) most would change their behaviour.
I suggest to my sales presentation clients that, in any meeting, be present or as I said in an earlier post (see June 24, 2010 post) DBAE (Don’t Be Anywhere Else). Fully listen and observe the person who is speaking. Consider what they are saying. Respond or interject as appropriate.
Being present and engaged will internally bubble up inside you and be displayed through your face, body and voice – and ‘present’ you as intelligently curious and in a positive light.
The ‘how to’ for this blog is this: Be fully present and engaged in any interaction, meeting and presentation, and observe the level of ‘presentness’ and engagement of other people.
