Feeling Like You Don't Fit In?
Often clients are surprised to learn that I am inherently shy and insecure.
Growing up I would watch the Christmas special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (no heckling about my age!) and always get a lump in my throat during the part about the toys on the “Land of Misfits”.
I could 2,671% relate.
I will forever have a soft spot in my heart for anyone who feels like they live in the Land of Misfits.
This internal challenge to feel confident while navigating the murky waters of daily interactions eventually led me to study body language. I knew mastering these skills would advance in my personal and professional life.
I needed to know how to:
Stand in front of a group and present
Feel confident speaking up
Easily make conversation
Be viewed as a leader… more than just “nice”
And that was terrifying.
I wondered how people did it.
In school, I was always fascinated by how the “cool kids” seemed to know how to show up and own the room and I wanted to drink their secret elixir.
And it took awhile to figure out what was in that special drink.
Studying and researching nonverbal communication allowed me to sip from the secret elixir cup and guzzle as much as possible.
Learning body language basics allowed me to become more self-aware and control the cues I send out.
It allowed me to show up:
Confidently
Intentionally
Relatably
You don't say!
Learning how to...
Introduce yourself
Make good eye contact
Give a great handshake
Make small talk
Give a toast
Give a presentation
Make someone feel included and welcomed
Have difficult conversations
Be approachable
Stand out in the digital world
Answer the dreaded, “Tell me about yourself” question
Be memorable
Etc.
These all begin with understanding the building blocks to communication and navigating social dynamics with confidence.
So what's your big people skill challenge?
We all have something we are working on. Let's say them out loud so we can look at them and check out the blueprint for improvement.
Because when we do this…
We start pragmatically tackling our people skill challenges, we start to show up differently.
And just like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, our version of a shiny, red nose (aka insecurities) will now seem like a badge of honor.
We will have empathy in addition to a cool set of helpful skills.
Your co-pilot (who now has Christmas songs playing in her head!),
P.S.
What is your biggest people skill challenge?
I’d love to hear about your challenge and what triggers a misfit moment! Reply with a 1 to 10-word explanation!