“I’m so nervous. {Fanning face, breathing heavily}.
I’ve spotted someone I really admire and I’m just desperate to introduce myself.
But I’ll die if I do.”
Torn between the desire to connect with someone who’ll be a great asset to your business and the fear of being embarrassed, you get stuck. And the opportunity passes.
Again.
Sound familiar?
The reason it’s so hard to connect with the people we want to influence is because we don’t know how to talk about ourselves. We want to be self-confident but not shameless, self-assured not sleazy. We just don’t know how.
Here are 8 tips:
- Don’t be needy, shy or desperate
- Focus on what you can give, not what you can get
- See yourself as an equal
- Be sincere
- Don’t be pushy
- Don’t expect anything in return
- Walk up and say “Hi. My name is _____. We haven’t met yet…”
- Stop caring about what other people think
The right people can connect you with resources and opportunities that will fast-track your career. If you can genuinely be of service to them, then not speaking about yourself is denying them your unique gifts.
Building a valuable circle of influence is a process that’s meant to unfold over time. And if you’re genuine, consistent and supportive, it will.
Image credit Morgan Sessions