The Ultimate Corporate Entrepreneur

Key to Success: Show Up Like You Mean It

Much of life's success is just showing up--making choices about how you plan to prioritize the 24 hours you have now. No matter what title someone carries or how much money they earn (or not earn), no one has more than 24 hours.

Easy enough.

But showing up like you mean it sends a different message to people. It tells people that you made a conscious decision to be there, whether you're spending time with a loved one, attending an event, or participating in a meeting. It's about fully engaging all parts of yourself.

The critical difference is the type of energy that you bring to the table when you show up like you mean it. It clearly differentiates you from those who just show up.

With all the focus on personal branding these days, why not consider shifting your energy to a level that says I'm here because I choose to and I expect powerful things to happen. 

In the last three weeks I've been reminded of this four different times, so I figured it was time to share:

1) I helped a neighbor's teenage son toss around ideas for a speech assignment he had to complete--telling his "story" in five minutes using PowerPoint slides. We came up with a theme centered around his passion for building homes one day.

"Whatever you do," I advised him, "give it your best shot. You never know who might be in the audience."

He dropped by this past weekend to let me know that his class and the teacher really enjoyed his story. As it turns out, another teacher dropped in to hear the presentations and happened to catch his. He had a strained relationship with this teacher, but after hearing his story she thanked him for "Letting me get to know you.

2) As a guest of Steve Yamaguma, I attended an evening gathering and pot luck dinner with Silicon Valley's Engage Her members. Steve's company Design2Market has been instrumental in supporting the non-profit's efforts; however, I almost skipped the meeting because I was feeling drained from the day and still hadn't prepared a dish to bring with me. Instead, I took a 20-minute nap and picked something up from the deli.

The energy of twenty-six women and men who showed up like they meant it was amazing. I had spirited conversations with dynamic, creative women on health care, motherhood, art, social media, and politics. A common theme of those participating that night had to do with reinventing themselves--personally and professionally.

I've been invited to facilitate a discussion on reinventing yourself during the group's next gathering in September.

You never know who might show up.

3) I attended a book publishing workshop in San Francisco and was pumped to spend two days learning something new. I walked in expecting great things to happen. Now, this is an example of when things can move in a direction that we don't expect or even hope for, but that can still hide a gem in the rough.

The event took a downturn for me after lunch on the first day, but not before a woman who had been sitting in the crowded front rows came and sat next to me in the back. As it turns out, Nettie Hartsock and I have quite a bit in common and are already planning next steps for how we can help one another in business.

You never know who's in the audience.

4) In May of this year I moderated a panel Innovation and Tech Career Reinvention for the 2nd Annual TeleSummit for Women in Technology. Note: Check out all the great panels and listen to the podcasts.) The preparation and lead up to the event was intense, including content development and practice drills with my high-powered panel (Sheryl Chamberlain, EMC; Christine Adzich, Big Picture Productions; Nance Wheeler, Intel; and Megan Fitzgerald, Career By Choice).

Fully committing wasn't just about me. It was about representing my panel in the best light possible and ensuring that participants got what they paid for, particularly those who were expecting great things to happen. 

Allyson Kapin, Partner, Rad Campaign and Founder of Women Who Tech posted a request on Twitter for someone who had majored in Journalism. As it turns out I did. Allyson asked if I would contribute to her Fast Company article on ethics in the blogging world. Check out Allyson's article Twitter's Stolen Documents Raises Ethics Questions (and my comments).

Showing up like you mean it often builds momentum.

Think about this the next time you decide to show up--raise the bar for yourself and show up like you mean it!

Your Credibility Capital: It Matters in a Down Economy

When was the last time you assessed your credibility with your manager, team mates, colleagues, partners and customers?  

Assumptions that your credibility hasn't changed in your current environment can put you at risk for economic surprises that don't come wrapped in satin red bows.

Personal credibility begins with the building blocks of rapport, moving along the values spectrum of trust, influence, and persuasion.

Awareness of the process for moving yourself along this spectrum whether with an individual, a team, or an organization can increase your chances that the right doors will open for you, remain open during a down economy, and won't slam shut without some type of warning.

Trust and Credibility

Trust is frequently confused with credibility. You could trust someone to perform their job capably, but not trust that they'd have your back if the going got tough. This falls within the area of trust and verify. 

When I say that I completely trust someone, it's a euphemism for credibility. These individuals are capable of influencing my ideas and opinions and persuading me to take their recommended actions.

The Spirit of Entrepreneurial Service

When was the last time you experienced really great service? Where did you find it? Was it at your local retail store or were you bowled over by great customer service via a technical support site?

Maybe it came from a small shop, a start-up business, or even a global company with service centers around the world. 

Those who know me find out early on how passionate I am about service. I’ve spent most of my career delivering great service to my customers, whether internal to the company or external.

This is both a blessing and a curse for those who now serve me. The blessing because when I receive it I scream it from the rooftops (well, not literally), but I do share it with my personal network. Over and over again. And the curse? Well, I share that as well.

Getting the Basics Right

What makes the difference between good and great service? It’s the unexpected things that go beyond someone just doing their job. I want to be treated to the same level of service when I have a problem as when you excitedly made the initial sale.

Please keep in mind that consistency isn’t about continuing to do the same level of service, but surprising me with innovative ways you’ve improved the service since the last time I visited. 

An example of great service in my own backyard, comes from a family-run European-style coffee house that opened in my neighborhood where competitors surround it like the three men on the boat in the movie Jaws.

Just the place to hang out, Bellano Coffee not only makes great coffee (expected), offers their own Internet connection at no cost (a plus), but their personal level of service to customers continues to wow me!

Influential Selling

Years ago I wrote a customer letter to the folks at Virgin-Atlantic because my daughter and I had experienced outstanding service from one of their flight attendants in Coach, no less. I must have shocked them with my outpouring (most folks write letters when they receive bad service), because I received a personal response that was as surprised as it was sincere.

Speed Mentoring for the Gaps

Recently I attended a graduation celebration in recognition of my participation in Women Unlimited’s mentoring program for emerging women leaders.

Selected by their companies to participate in this dynamic, high-impact 10–month program, it was an honor and privilege to see the power of mentoring!

One of the messages that wove its way through the presentations, awards, and thank you speeches,  was the importance of recognizing and building upon our strengths.

I couldn’t agree more.

But it also got me thinking about what it means to work from our strengths. The gift of a natural talent does not a skill make. Skill development takes discipline and practice before it becomes a recognized strength that you can leverage in business and in your career.

Continuous learning needs to play a key part in your skill development. What you knew a year ago can be obsolete before your next birthday.

What can you do to close smaller gaps or “tweak” an existing skill that may only need a refresh to bring it up-to-date?

Speed Mentoring for the Gaps

The Four Stages of Credibility

The importance of building credible business relationships not only establishes a reputation as a person of influence, but also effectively moves your ideas, proposals, and initiatives forward.

Credibility, like trust, is a value that means something different for everyone. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to validate how your customers, your immediate manager,  his or her manager, and your peers define it.

There are four stages to establishing credibility:

1. Rapport         Sets the Stage
2. Trust             Speeds time to Influence
3. Influence        Individual thinks differently
4. Persuasion    Individual acts differently

Credibility is a Measurement of Your Relationship Effectiveness 

When someone gives me their word – and it stands for something – they become credible in my eyes.  Planning to miss an agreed upon deadline? Just give me an early heads up so I can plan for it. 

You might consider making it easier on other people, and yourself, by letting them know at the start what “makes you tick”. Share your expectations and “hot buttons” early on and you’ll avoid miscommunication and strained relationships down the road. 

Rapport - Sets the Stage

Build Rapport in 60 Seconds (or Less)

Rapport. How can you tell when you “have it” with someone? You might call it chemistry, others might refer to it as “clicking” with someone. 

Allowing rapport to do the heavy lifting in business communication can move relationships forward quickly and painlessly, while opening doors for you in unexpected ways. 

Whether the relationship exists between a client and sales professional, between a manager and employee, or between two business colleagues, establishing rapport creates the “glue” between people.

Four Steps to Building Rapport in 60 seconds:

1. Identify common denominators
2. Determine communication/social style
3. Align personal and professional values
4. Establish a baseline for building trust 

Step 1:  Identify common denominators (first 15 seconds).

Most people squander the opening seconds when meeting someone for the first time. You can learn a good deal about someone within the first fifteen seconds if you train your eyes and brain to collect and process the clues around you.