As I have become more seasoned in my
Many of us have been conditioned that the following are negative:
- Poor eye contact
- Nervousness (high-energy)
- Stuttering
- Silence in a conversation
- Controversial conversation topics
- Less than stellar clothing or hair style choices
I challenge everyone who reads this post to think the next time you let your mind wander, and not judge someone based on any of the these behaviors. Think about it, have you exhibited these behaviors yourself? Are they really important? Should you dismiss a job candidate, devalue a professional connection, or not take advantage of a business opportunity because of them?
I will confess that I do or have displayed these unique behaviors myself.
- Poor eye contact- I have weak eye muscles, so eye contact can be tricky to convey for me
- Nervousness (high-energy) – I am a passionate person, and people who care get nervous, have high energy, and can seem hyper to most people
- Stuttering- I had a pretty bad stutter when I was young, and a minor stutter sneaks out every few years
- Silence in a conversation- I had to learn how to make myself let this happen. You learn more by listening and letting others talk. Silence allows the other party take the conversation where they want to take it, which makes them more comfortable.
- Controversial conversation topics- this allows you to learn what motivates someone and makes them tick. When the conversation reaches a certain emotional level then you shift gears.
- Less than stellar clothing or hair style choices- we have all had luggage not arrive or packed the wrong clothes. I once moderated a seminar while wearing one black shoe and one brown shoe.
Relationships are more important than ever in business, and they are difficult enough without us subconsciously judging business colleagues or peers to our own detriment. In today’s world people in areas such as IT,