Career Tip #1: Act Like You Own the Place
Do you ever walk into a meeting, or an interview, and feel like the new kid on the block? Unsure of what to do, or how to act? It's a common experience for many people. The truth is that it shouldn't be. You should act like you own the place! And this initial piece of advice will help make it happen.
This blog post provides tips on how to walk into any situation and make others feel comfortable from day one.
Workplaces are full of people exchanging ideas, and building relationships. If you come in and don't make others feel comfortable or relaxed, your chances of interacting with them will be reduced.
Which is the last thing we want. You want to make the most out of your interactions with everyone around you, because ultimately that is how you get ahead in life.
And that's why this first career tip is so important: "Act like you own the place." Everything else flows from that…including connection!
Here are some ways to make it happen:
First impressions are everything! What people see when they meet you will affect how they feel about you right away.
Remember what you're going for. Get an idea of who you want to interact with in the first place. Specifically, how do you want them to feel? Do you want to make them comfortable, awkward, or nervous? Now think about your current situation. What would help the most to get yourself into that frame of mind?
Consider these examples:
You're meeting someone for a job interview and it's your first time ever meeting them. You are wearing a suit and tie as you walk into the room. Right off the bat, they can tell that you have a professional attitude, and they will feel comfortable because they know that this is who they are dealing with at work.
You're meeting someone for a job interview and it's your first time ever meeting them. You are wearing a suit and tie as you walk into the room. Right off the bat, they can tell that you have a professional attitude, and they will feel comfortable because they know that this is who they are dealing with at work.
Maybe you can use your appearance to demonstrate a more relaxed attitude? For example:
You're waiting for an interview (this isn't how you dress every day). This shows that you probably don't take yourself too seriously, and will let others be themselves around you.
You're waiting for an interview (this isn't how you dress every day). This shows that you probably don't take yourself too seriously, and will let others be themselves around you.
Whatever the case, make sure that your appearance is appropriate and conducive to the environment. You want to COMFORT, not CONTROL.
2) Get out of YOUR head
Every person in a professional situation has their own agenda! That's just how it goes. I mean, everyone has their own baggage and issues in life, right? Now think about who you're talking to for a second…are they thinking about YOU? Probably not. They are thinking about themselves. They are in their own little world, with their own issues and agendas.
That's okay! That's just human nature. By the time you meet someone they have already built up a picture of who they think you are based on the information they already have (your resume, where you went to school, etc.). They aren't thinking too much about YOU, instead they are thinking about themselves…and how you fit into whatever agenda they have going on in their own mind.
The key is to get out of YOUR head and try to get them to THINK ABOUT YOU.
For example:
You walk into a room, and immediately you're thinking about what you're wearing; "Should I wear a suit and tie? Is my shirt ironed?" As soon as you start to think about what is going on in your head, their brains are already lighting up with information. This will make them feel less comfortable around you because they don't know how to act and treat you!
Try to be aware of your own thoughts and try to change the direction of your thought process. For example:
Take a step back from yourself, so that others can come into their own! All we want is for them to feel like they can be themselves around us.
All we want is for them to feel like they can be themselves around us.
So when you're talking to someone, try to be aware of your own thoughts, and try to repeat the question that they asked you in your head. This will help you get out of your head and make them feel more comfortable!
3) Engage in conversation
You know all those interactions that happen on a daily basis at work? The passing by in the hallways? The emails? The phone calls? There are so many opportunities every day to talk with people, but many people don't take advantage of these chances enough. Instead, they show up and just do their job.
But what about making friends?
That is more important than most people realize. In this day and age, it is all about how well you work with others. The better you know someone and interact with them, the more opportunities arise for promotion and co-workers will want to help you out because they like you. The less you know someone and interact with them, the fewer opportunities arise for promotion and co-workers will be less likely to help you out because they don't know who you are.
That being said…how do we get to know someone? Easy! ENGAGE! It's that simple.
For example:
Have you ever seen someone that you wanted to get to know, but for whatever reason you didn't engage with them? I'm sure you have! You wanted to say something or talk with them, but never made the move because you thought it would be awkward. Or maybe it was too busy and he/she was in a rush. But then the next time that you see them again, the same thing happens…you don't talk to them because it is awkward and it's too busy. Then the cycle repeats itself once again where you don't even give yourself a chance to connect with them.
Conclusion
If you take the time to think about these 3 simple steps, then surely you will be able to build a strong foundation with new co-workers or people that you meet on a daily basis.
These steps are crucial to creating a "working relationship" with anyone. By taking the right steps, you can make yourself stand out and help others develop a greater feeling of comfort around you. But remember…if someone is making YOU uncomfortable, then ask them why! This is important because it shows that you care about what they think and feel.