A client recently told me that she gives people nothing to remember her by.
I think what she’s saying is that she doesn’t know what she wants people to remember. That tells me she hasn’t answered the question for herself. She hasn’t been intentional about what she wants someone to remember about her. And she hasn’t taken ownership of her ability to convey what’s true and important about her.
The question, what do I absolutely want someone to know about ME, is worth pondering … for all of us. Yes, it’s particularly important for job seekers and entrepreneurs. But it’s also important as you navigate daily interactions.
What is the impression you leave behind?
Earnest, Thoughtful, Playful, Intense, Sexy, Smart, Spacey, Curious, Friendly, Ambivalent, Tired, Determined, OR??
What we most notice and remember comes from body language and energy, more from how we speak and less from what we say!
In fact, 93 percent of what people tune into comes through body language, tone of voice and breath!
When you think about what people notice, think about your energy, your spirit, whether you are grounded and centered. Then consider how you speak: your connection to what you are saying, your tone, your ability to be heard and finally what you articulated.
Here’s what I counsel my clients:
Think of three thingsthat you want someone to remember about you.
First, START WITH YOU, with qualities you want people to notice.
You don’t have to say these things. Rather tune in and know what feels true about who you are. For example, I want people to notice that I am warm, thoughtful, and playful. Before I meet with someone, I connect to those qualities in me.
… Know that this is deep work because we all too often try to be something, we think we should, we were told we were supposed to, we make up a story about what’s impressive. No! Be honest and know the qualities you embody that you want people to notice. Your warmth, your earnestness, your diligence. this is your grounding place….
Second, connect to your genuine enthusiasm. Again, we are talking about tuning into what gives you energy because that will help you feel invigorated and it’s more likely to be infectious. https://lauraparadisecoaching.com/genuine-enthusiasm/
Think of something that is important or interesting to you about your work. Since networking is at the core of my work, I may talk about how I got into coaching because of my networking skills and how I’m able to serve my clients by offering programs that connect people.
Third, talk about something you are committed to. It can be something you are working on, it could be your life work, it could be a skill. In my case, I am committed to helping people improve their interview skills. I’m likely to tell someone about the Interview Club and why I created it. I might also ask someone about what they do to prepare for an interview.
Making a genuine impression is deep work.It’s personal, it requires introspection, it means getting honest about what matters to you.
Being remembered for the “right things” takes being intentional. It starts with connecting to yourself and what’s important to you, so that you speak from a place of authenticity. It’s important that you speak to connect and not to impress.
So, take a deep breath and listen inside. Think about what you want people to notice. Think about what you know about yourself and your personality. Think about what interests you. And be intentional about how you shine.