In the last few months I have been approached by an attorney who just passed the bar, a financial planner that is selling for a large insurance company, a 53-year-old woman who was just laid off after 29 years working at a grocery store, and a newly licensed Certified Shorthand Reporter, all asking if I had any advice about networking and finding opportunity. I know from experience certain things, but I wanted to give them “scientific, expert” advice. Therefore, I did some research and found the following:
- A 10th of a Second: A series of experiments by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov reveal that all it takes is a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger from their facial expression and how they present themselves. You need to be 100 percent ready the moment you walk in the room, smiling, dressed appropriately, and with a positive attitude.
- Adjust your attitude: In a recent Forbes article, Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., business coach advises, “People pick up your attitude instantly. Before you turn to greet someone, or enter the boardroom, courtroom, or deposition, think about the situation and make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to embody.” Before you get in the room think to yourself, “It’s show time,” and get energized.
- Straighten your posture: Goman also writes, “Status and power are nonverbally conveyed by height and space. Standing tall, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head straight are all signals of confidence and competence.”
- Physical Contact: Reading, “Psychology of a Handshake,” it states, “A good handshake relates positively to extroversion and emotional expressiveness like sociability and friendliness, while a limp handshake is regarded negatively, as being indicative of shyness, neuroticism, and introversion. Learn how to give a firm, friendly handshake.
- Use the Person’s Name: As Dale Carnegie states, “A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” There is a great article that talks about everything from using someone’s name you meet at a party to an email I found in the Washington Post, “Career Coach: The Power of Using a Name.”
These five pieces of advice are all doable. They are physical and practical. Once a person has their degree, certification, or diploma, I believe you have the tools to embrace opportunity. The key is to go forth and “do it.” Congratulations to all of the newly licensed court reporters, attorneys, financial planners – everyone in the workforce. I wish all of you great success in your careers.
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