Common Sense Ideas for Becoming the Career Star You Are Meant to Be

Today is Monday, so this post is about self confidence. 

Recently, I read a conversation with Ilise Benum, author of a book entitled Stop Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy and Less Assertive.  I really like what Ms. Benum had to say about self confidence.

In the interview, Ms. Benum listed four tips for building self confidence.

• Stop comparing yourself to others.
• Always take the time to prepare.
• Visualize another reality.
• Think small.

   

Today, I’m discussing her second point – always take the time to prepare -- in some detail...

One of my first bosses had a saying that he drilled into me: “preparation makes up for lack of talent”.  When I tell that story in presentations today, I always add “and it’s a good thing because that’s how I’ve gotten as far as I have”.

Seriously, preparation is a great self confidence building tool.  It’s just common sense, if you’re prepared, you’re likely to do a better job.  In my presentation skills workshops, I tell people to practice their talk – out loud and in front of a mirror – until they find themselves saying the same words about 90% of the time.  This technique has always worked for me.

However, like a lot of common sense, people often ignore this advice.  Why?  Because of a lot of reasons: practicing a talk is time consuming, they feel foolish saying it out loud, they hate to look at themselves in a mirror etc, etc, etc.  Yet, people who use this advice are great presenters. 

Hearing the words come out of your mouth is not the same as thinking them.  When you say words out loud, you get comfortable with them.  As you’re standing in front of an audience, familiarity with your words is a very comforting feeling.

I give similar advice to leaders who are getting ready to have a performance discussion with one of their employees.  Practice what you’re going to say.  Anticipate how the other person is likely to react.  Plan what you’ll say to the reaction.  Managers who do this, tell me that even the most difficult of discussions tend to go well.

I didn’t dream up all this.  I learned it in sales training.  Overcoming objections is an important part of all sales training programs.  When learning how to overcome objections, sales people are presented with a list of potential objections to buying they are likely to encounter.  Then, they are taught what to say to counter each objection.  That’s preparation – and this type of preparation makes successful sales people.

Preparation makes successful sales people, because prepared sales people are confident sales people.  Preparation works in other aspects of your life too.  You do a better job when you are prepared – and doing a good job enhances your self confidence.  So whenever you think you can get by, remember my first boss and his favorite saying – preparation makes up for a lack of talent – and prepare.  You’ll be glad you did.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Tomorrow, I’ll be doing a post on personal impact.  Log on to my other blog www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a business, and my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.