Fellow citizens, we are seven weeks away from electing our new president! As a result, we are all hearing a lot more speeches and talks than we normally do. It's time to take a moment to reflect on how we, mere business and entrepreneurial mortals, can benefit from these public faux pas!
1. Don't compare yourself to any kind of unpleasant animals. Alway stick with the reliables: puppies, kittens and bunnies. Anything else and you risk upsetting more fringe groups than I can list here.
2. Resist the urge to be strong and definitive about everything. No one knows everything, and no one can relate to someone who says they are confident about how they can handle every situation.
3. Be transparent. Say what you mean, and make sure that the facts are there to back it up. Don't get caught trying to play to a small group when it doesn't meet your own beliefs and business practices.
4. Behave consistently. When you decide to talk publicly about your ideas, make sure you are consistent with that every time you speak. For example, if you say you believe workers deserve an annual pay raise, commit to that whenever the subject comes up. Don't try to change the facts later when the pay raise is not forthcoming; just say that you still believe in it, but you can't deliver due to circumstances. And then be clear what those circumstances are!
The people you do business with are listening to you. Take care that you know what you have said, and say what you believe. They are noticing!
Til next time,
Anna