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re: How to come off as polished in a business setting
Posted on 8/7/15 at 8:31 am to Statsattack
Posted on 8/7/15 at 8:31 am to Statsattack
Always have a compelling story to tell
And if you don't have a compelling story, make your story sound compelling
And if you don't have a compelling story, make your story sound compelling
0
Posted on 8/7/15 at 9:28 am to Statsattack
Read How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Posted on 8/7/15 at 9:57 am to Louie T
I just finished this book. Great read.
Posted on 8/7/15 at 2:38 pm to Toula
It can absolutely be learned. Speaking and handling yourself in public situations is akin to riding a bike. The more you do it, the more adroit you become.
Some people take longer than others, but with the proper training and effort anyone can develop themselves.
Some people take longer than others, but with the proper training and effort anyone can develop themselves.
Posted on 8/8/15 at 8:24 pm to Statsattack
Being polished is only one facet of how people end up on a fast track, along with being proactive in your job and knowing the right people in the organization. Competence is also important for promotions at some companies.
My suggestions on improving "polish":
- Understand how your business makes money and always ask yourself if your daily activities and recommendations help the company make more.
- Speak with conviction and in simple, practical terms.
- Be a good listener. When you disagree, remember to seek first to understand and then to be understood.
- Always tailor your presentations and comments to the audience, the allotted time, and the decision at hand. Put the decision in context but without wasting time on wild tangents.
Personally I am not a snappy dresser but often receive comments afterwards about how smooth or compelling my presentations and meetings have been. I think a couple of factors have helped over the years:
- Teaching a lot of Junior Achievement, starting in college. If you can keep a group of kids interested and engaged about finance, then engaging an audience in the business world is a cinch.
- Thinking about my presentations ahead of time like a "coffee pot" presentation. If I were hanging with one of the decision makers at a coffee pot for 5 minutes, what are the key drivers and simple logic that I would use to get my point across? So in a presentation I will start with that and build the supporting details around it. Then I think through it and anticipate the questions that will come up.
Earlier in my career I was probably a little more polished, but I have ratcheted that down a notch to become more engaging and genuine. This balance fits my personality better.
My suggestions on improving "polish":
- Understand how your business makes money and always ask yourself if your daily activities and recommendations help the company make more.
- Speak with conviction and in simple, practical terms.
- Be a good listener. When you disagree, remember to seek first to understand and then to be understood.
- Always tailor your presentations and comments to the audience, the allotted time, and the decision at hand. Put the decision in context but without wasting time on wild tangents.
Personally I am not a snappy dresser but often receive comments afterwards about how smooth or compelling my presentations and meetings have been. I think a couple of factors have helped over the years:
- Teaching a lot of Junior Achievement, starting in college. If you can keep a group of kids interested and engaged about finance, then engaging an audience in the business world is a cinch.
- Thinking about my presentations ahead of time like a "coffee pot" presentation. If I were hanging with one of the decision makers at a coffee pot for 5 minutes, what are the key drivers and simple logic that I would use to get my point across? So in a presentation I will start with that and build the supporting details around it. Then I think through it and anticipate the questions that will come up.
Earlier in my career I was probably a little more polished, but I have ratcheted that down a notch to become more engaging and genuine. This balance fits my personality better.
Posted on 8/9/15 at 4:13 pm to Bayou Tiger
Also consider the field: what is polished in one industry can make you a smarmy used car salesman in another. Ditto for dress: think neat and clean, not trendy and slick. Join Toastmasters, Rotary, volunteer to lead a Scout troop or teach religion/Bible study: small group speaking and leadership skills can be learned in a variety of ways. Aim to be a better person, and it will deliver benefits beyond your career.
Posted on 8/9/15 at 6:35 pm to GFunk
quote:
But being single for as long as I was (didn't marry until my early 30's) helped me polish
Some people still polish it after the wedding.
This post was edited on 8/9/15 at 6:36 pm
Posted on 8/10/15 at 3:34 pm to Statsattack
What you refer to as "polish" is a lot like leadership. Some people are naturally good at it. For others, it absolutely can be learned and for everyone, it can always be improved.
I've taken, been involved with, and taught a number of classes on so-called soft skills, including a class on group problem solving and a class on first becoming a manager, just this past week at a conference.
I would consider a few things:
1) Do good work. Nothing replaces good work. If you do good work, yes, you then have to be able to promote yourself and work with others... but if you don't do good work, then you have to BS the entire time. Eventually, BS catches up with you.
2) Leaders are readers. Read as much as you can. 7 Habits is a good first book. Second I would read How to Win Friends and Influence People. After those two, there are a host of good books out there about selling, communication, leadership, management, etc.
3) Join a group like ToastMasters. They will help you develop speaking skills for all types of situations, from happy hours to formal presentations. There are actually different types of skill sets for each.
4) Join a volunteer organization, either something in your industry, or something like Kiwanis, or something like the local chamber. But besides joining... actually get involved, join a committee, help plan an event, etc. You will get to practice your skills as well as meet people.
5) Going out to eat everyday for lunch can get expensive, especially if you don't have an expense account, but try to go out for lunch at least a couple of days a week, either with a co-worker, customer, supplier, etc. Again... all of this is practice.
6) Go to happy hours sponsored by your local chamber or other groups... more practice... more practice...
7) Lastly, you got to learn how to toot your own horn a bit, without sounding like you have a huge ego. This might be the hardest thing to do. What I do personally, is try to trumphet victories of teams I am on. If I tell everyone about how a particular group I'm working with had a victory, in a way, I'm also promoting myself... but without sounding like I'm promoting myself.
Hope these help.
I've taken, been involved with, and taught a number of classes on so-called soft skills, including a class on group problem solving and a class on first becoming a manager, just this past week at a conference.
I would consider a few things:
1) Do good work. Nothing replaces good work. If you do good work, yes, you then have to be able to promote yourself and work with others... but if you don't do good work, then you have to BS the entire time. Eventually, BS catches up with you.
2) Leaders are readers. Read as much as you can. 7 Habits is a good first book. Second I would read How to Win Friends and Influence People. After those two, there are a host of good books out there about selling, communication, leadership, management, etc.
3) Join a group like ToastMasters. They will help you develop speaking skills for all types of situations, from happy hours to formal presentations. There are actually different types of skill sets for each.
4) Join a volunteer organization, either something in your industry, or something like Kiwanis, or something like the local chamber. But besides joining... actually get involved, join a committee, help plan an event, etc. You will get to practice your skills as well as meet people.
5) Going out to eat everyday for lunch can get expensive, especially if you don't have an expense account, but try to go out for lunch at least a couple of days a week, either with a co-worker, customer, supplier, etc. Again... all of this is practice.
6) Go to happy hours sponsored by your local chamber or other groups... more practice... more practice...
7) Lastly, you got to learn how to toot your own horn a bit, without sounding like you have a huge ego. This might be the hardest thing to do. What I do personally, is try to trumphet victories of teams I am on. If I tell everyone about how a particular group I'm working with had a victory, in a way, I'm also promoting myself... but without sounding like I'm promoting myself.
Hope these help.
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