There you are, in a boardroom meeting with a few of your
business colleagues, and in walks a woman. As you observe
her, you think to yourself, " Now she's really got it
together. This woman has got it all figured out. She's got
this one nailed to the floor." What do you see?
As you know first impressions are worth millions. Without
even actually knowing someone, you can gather a great deal
of information about them: whether they're confident or
not, if they take themselves seriously, if they know what
they want, if they are responsible, or whether they're
happy. Of course, appearance says a lot, but it's not just
about what's on the surface of an individual that matters.
It's about what lies beneath, and body language says
plenty. Now if you have your superficial act together, then
your body language should match. For instance, would you
take someone seriously that has all the confidence in the
world, but looks like a bum? Not on your life.
In the business world, body language is tantamount to your
success. What you say must be congruent with what you are
portraying, or showing. Many of us forget, potential
clients and business partners are looking for this. So
therefore you must be congruent, that is you must know what
you want, be confident in yourself and what you do, as well
as take yourself seriously. This includes looking your
best, and staying fit as it exhibits that you care about
your well being. This translates into caring about the
welfare of others. A client thinks, "If they take care of
themselves, then they probably care about their business."
This means clients and customers. It is important to
realize that your clients and business partners are always
making connections about you. They are trying to draw
rational conclusions about whether they should trust your
business.
The brain is our internal switchboard; it's also our
central control. It sorts and applies information about
incoming stimuli to decision-making. In many instances,
people don't have any memory to recall upon when making
decisions about others. By and largely, the
client/professional relationship is very much this way,
especially in the beginning. So the brain is frantically
at work summing up situations and people from very little
information. Although this prospect seems daunting from an
entrepreneurial aspect, it's actually just the opposite.
This is your time to shine for the spotlight is upon you.
Three Important Pointers:
1. Eye Contact is Essential: Look at whomever you are
addressing square in the eye. This is how you are
connecting from a visual standpoint. Most importantly, it
says that you are firm in your position and have nothing to
hide. "I'm an open book." It also is an indicator that you
are paying attention to what someone is saying to you.
2. Smile. Be Energetic and Upbeat. This says that you are
happy with what you do. It also says, "If you find out
more about me, you will be happy too." Yes, people are firm
believers that happiness is catching.
3. Don't Slouch. How many times have you heard this
growing up? This says you are confident and proficient.
Slouching and poor posture is often associated with
laziness and irresponsibility.
Being your own boss, and the queen of your empire requires
you to think as your clients and business partners do. In
other words, instead of looking at yourself face on as in a
mirror, view yourself from another perspective---from over
there.
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Increase Your Entrepreneural Success. Visit:
http://www.myunlimitedsuccess.com
Aunice Reed is a
Professional Success Coach and NLP Master for Women. Visit
Her Blog: http://www.womensspecialtygroup.typepad.com
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