BY: Marci Bryant
Have you ever been in the presence of someone with an undeniable magnetism and wondered how they got that “it” factor? It’s almost like magic how their energy can inadvertently shift a room. Whether it’s a presentation, meeting, networking event, or pitching competition –there’s always something about them that makes them stand out from the rest. They’ve got that thing that you just can’t define, but wish you could somehow replicate.
What you’re looking for is soft skills, skills you won’t learn in school. Focusing on these three things below can catapult your growth.
“…consider your body language, tone of voice, conversational style, and even your manners.”
COMMUNICATION
If you’re looking to sharpen your soft skills it’s best to start with communication, as it gives you a proper foundation for nearly every other soft skill. You can’t be successful at problem-solving, conflict resolution, negotiating, presenting, or persuading without being a strong communicator. What this looks like is understanding how to empathize with others, learning their priorities and values, discovering people’s preferred way of receiving information, and even uncovering non-verbal cues that people share. Having this level of understanding can make you the kind of communicator that uncovers unspoken conversations and makes everyone feel seen.
Pro tip: If you want to become a better communicator, consider your body language, tone of voice, conversational style, and even your manners.
CONFIDENCE
One consistent trait that separates the greats from the rest of the pack is confidence. If you take a look at the GOAT in any arena, you’ll see that each one has belief in themselves that has caused them to achieve some very unique successes. Dolly Parton, Serena Williams, Beyonce, Reese Witherspoon, and Viola Davis are just a few examples of women who have claimed their place at the top of their game. Although they all come from very different experiences and backgrounds, what they all have in common is a belief that their talent is exceptional and a relentless pursuit of excellence in their craft.
If you don’t have confidence that you are the best or have the power to become the best, you will have great difficulty producing spectacular results for yourself or others. Increased confidence comes from seeing the results of your efforts. If you’re struggling with confidence in a particular area, you may need to take a good look at yourself or even ask others. What are you best at? What makes you unique? What do you wish you were better at, and what will you have to commit to or sacrifice to improve?
COLLABORATION
Collaboration is about finding common ground to support shared goals. Understanding big picture goals will help everyone align on processes, communication, timelines, and deliverables. Become the ultimate collaborator by developing a deep knowledge of the stakeholders and their priorities, refining your approach with each team or member based on their unique needs. Outside of the office, networking is a great way to facilitate collaboration opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a career opportunity, professional organization, event sponsor, or business bestie – you have to meet new people and find opportunities to forge new partnerships through collaborations.
Marci Bryant, MBA is the founder of Sync Digital Agency. As a business- to-business digital strategist, she helps businesses create funnels, offers, and revenue using AI. Learn more at syncdigitalagency.com
