It’s campaign season.
I’ll bet you remember: Yes, we Can!
What a great campaign slogan. It conveys power. It asserts success. It communicates capability, competency and action. It sets the stage for vision and results. And it’s simple and strong and to the point.
All of us have “yes, we can.”
If you ask me the best way to prepare for a job interview, I’d say: brainstorm a list of “Yes, I Can” statements. And, to prepare really well, brainstorm your statements out loud with someone else so the words roll out without thought or doubt, so the words feel natural.
Here’s why I believe “Yes, I Can” is a key to winning interviews and getting hired: You need to be able to communicate what you CAN do and OWN it. Simply. Clearly. Honestly. Enthusiastically.
You need to know the bottom line. The contribution you make to the workplace.
You need to know and feel that YOU CAN. Because it takes can do energy to be effective and successful.
And the irony is that, while it’s important to have stories and examples of accomplishments, the very simple strong feeling of power and pride can get lost in the telling. Especially if you have an inner critic that doubts the value of what you have to offer.
I want to help you stay connected to the power of feeling capable.
At the Interview Club, we’ve been doing improv activities where people complete short, declarative statements for one minute:
- I can (fill in the blank).
- I am (fill in the blank).
- I care about (fill in the blank).
It’s remarkable what you can say in a minute of filling in the blanks. Some sentences seem to be harder to complete than others. Interestingly, “I can” is a hard one for a lot of us.
That tells me that we need to practice OWNING and KNOWING and ARTICULATING what we can do. Our skills are the foundation for getting a job done. As is the spirit of can do.
You know I’m a campaign to get lots of people job offers. So, what’s your homework from Paradise Coaching campaign headquarters? You guessed it: Get out a timer, get a buddy and brainstorm a list of Yes I can statements. Or come to the Interview Club (calendar below). Whether it’s a job interview, a meeting with your boss or a prospective client, or simply going to work, Yes, I can, will make a difference for you.
And, for extra credit, brainstorm another set of “Yes, I Can” statements and add the phrase “in service of “ to the mix. Then you will have two sets of statements and lots of material that shows what you are capable of and the benefits of your good works and effort.
I’d love to see your “Yes, I can” lists. You know where to send them: lparadise.coach@gmail.com