I recently attended a meet and greet with several candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. As I sat sipping my coffee, I watched each of them working the room and made several observations before I had shaken a single hand.
1. Two were dressed in suits and ties and looked confident and secure in their attire, reaking of professionalism. Before I knew anything about them, they told me that they were both used to this environment and fit for the job. Two others were also wearing suits and ties, but appeared fidgety. They pulled at their cuffs and their ties weren't tied properly. They were obviously doing their best at looking professional and playing the part, but I could tell they were blue collar men, not used to dress up occassions. One wore Carharts with keys dangling from the beltloop, one wore khaki's and a cheap knit shirt, and one wore a pair of blue jeans. I didn't even know this last one was running because he lurked in the shadows and tried to avoid contact until time to speak.
2. Several of them handed out some sort of media explaining who they were and what they stood for - a card, a brochure, or a flier. The two men who were wearing suits and looking professional, had large, glossy fliers with several colors, a great layout, and a very concisly and effectively worded message. Very professional. Others had tri-fold brochures they printed off of the inkjet at their house. One of these showed a picture of he and his wife. Neither were smiling. Both looked miserable. Very un-professional. The professionals handed their fliers to the individual people, the un-professionals set them on the table and moved on, never speaking to the voter in the seat.
3. The two men in professional suits and quality media worked the room quickly and effectively. They spoke with everyone there, taking enough time to tell their listener who they were and what they were doing, and in turn listening to what this potential supporter had to say. Then they moved on, effectively giving every person in the room a moment of quality time. Other candidates either ignored some altogether or spent all their time on only one or two different people.
As I sat drinking my coffee, having not spoken to anyone, but watching everyone, I knew the race would come down to two candidates. The rest of them were wasting their time. Watching the voters sitting around the room, I could tell they were thinking the same as I. Once the floor was opened to questions, more questions were directed at those two and more people wanted to be heard by those two.
Think about the message you are presenting when you're not saying anything. How are you dressed? How do you carry yourself? Do you exude professionalism? Do people see you as a serious person doing serious business before they speak with you? Or do they glance over you and move on, concluding in a snap second assessment that you're not a person to get things done?
I encourage everyone to think about your silent communication this week and focus on what you're saying when you're not saying anything.
1. Two were dressed in suits and ties and looked confident and secure in their attire, reaking of professionalism. Before I knew anything about them, they told me that they were both used to this environment and fit for the job. Two others were also wearing suits and ties, but appeared fidgety. They pulled at their cuffs and their ties weren't tied properly. They were obviously doing their best at looking professional and playing the part, but I could tell they were blue collar men, not used to dress up occassions. One wore Carharts with keys dangling from the beltloop, one wore khaki's and a cheap knit shirt, and one wore a pair of blue jeans. I didn't even know this last one was running because he lurked in the shadows and tried to avoid contact until time to speak.
2. Several of them handed out some sort of media explaining who they were and what they stood for - a card, a brochure, or a flier. The two men who were wearing suits and looking professional, had large, glossy fliers with several colors, a great layout, and a very concisly and effectively worded message. Very professional. Others had tri-fold brochures they printed off of the inkjet at their house. One of these showed a picture of he and his wife. Neither were smiling. Both looked miserable. Very un-professional. The professionals handed their fliers to the individual people, the un-professionals set them on the table and moved on, never speaking to the voter in the seat.
3. The two men in professional suits and quality media worked the room quickly and effectively. They spoke with everyone there, taking enough time to tell their listener who they were and what they were doing, and in turn listening to what this potential supporter had to say. Then they moved on, effectively giving every person in the room a moment of quality time. Other candidates either ignored some altogether or spent all their time on only one or two different people.
As I sat drinking my coffee, having not spoken to anyone, but watching everyone, I knew the race would come down to two candidates. The rest of them were wasting their time. Watching the voters sitting around the room, I could tell they were thinking the same as I. Once the floor was opened to questions, more questions were directed at those two and more people wanted to be heard by those two.
Think about the message you are presenting when you're not saying anything. How are you dressed? How do you carry yourself? Do you exude professionalism? Do people see you as a serious person doing serious business before they speak with you? Or do they glance over you and move on, concluding in a snap second assessment that you're not a person to get things done?
I encourage everyone to think about your silent communication this week and focus on what you're saying when you're not saying anything.
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