Heed this advice if you’re about to interview, network, try to make an impression on your boss or talk to a prospective client.
P – Prepare
There is a lot behind preparation, right? It’s everything from research and knowing your audience, to preparing your stories and talking points, to saying them out loud. Make sure you Know who you’re talking to, know what they value
Know your key points and what you want people to remember
And then prepare.
P- Passion
Call it genuine enthusiasm, think of it as what interests and excites you, or what gets you curious, or simply think of it as what touches your heart. The best speakers and interviewees speak with feeling and positive energy. We can feel them, we know they are sincere, and we sense that they care deeply. We all know that passion and authenticity can’t be faked. We also know that passion can be a tall order, particularly when we’re feeling nervous and thinking a lot about saying the right thing. Let your passion come through by softening and relating rather than trying to be perfect.
P- Presence
Speaking is relating, yes? When you breathe and slow down, when you feel your feet on the ground and your butt in your chair, you actually become more present and alert, and you communicate with presence. Note that this advice (and the next P) pertains the the physical plane. Feeling your body, noticing your breath, speaking slowly… we pay attention to people that are here not people that are spaced out or in their heads. So, take those few slow long deep breaths and feel your body. You’ll command more attention that way.
P- Posture
Upright, tall, aligned. Sit or stand up straight. Imagine yourself growing by a half-inch. Lift the crown of your head. Roll your shoulders back and down. Think of this as the opposite of the smartphone/computer posture. Ahhhhh.
P- Pause
The best speakers speak to be heard. They speak with emphasis, they let their words land and they give listeners the chance to digest what they’ve said. Try making a strong statement about what you offer and then pausing for a few seconds. Let us take in what you have said. Imagine each statement or key point as a baseball pitch. Deliver it and then watch as the batter or interviewer savors your words. All of us could do to pause more often. It gives us a chance to breathe and savor too.
P- Practice
Make time to speak out loud, preferably to a friend or colleague. Practice your interview responses, embody your words, notice where you express passion or interest, notice whether you stop breathing or speak quickly, consider where you might pause and slow down.
… easy on the Q’s
It’s best to limit your questions in an interview. My favorite is to ask what the deliverables or key goals are in the first six months/year of the job. I also like to ask where there are opportunities to grow and how the organization supports professional development. Question about work culture and management style or also good choices.