What We Say Alters Our Outcome Follow Up | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

What We Say Alters Our Outcome Follow Up

[Tuesday, July 07, 2009 | View Comments ]

The last three days have been filled with mountain biking in Sun Valley, Idaho with the last few hours of this morning spent learning to fly fish. During these times I’ve been thinking often about leadership, personal branding in our communities and how best do we want to show up in our lives for others.

My article today is a follow up on the posting from June 23, 2009, What You Say Alters Your Outcome and ties in my thoughts this week and the comments provided by three readers from the last posting.

Before I left for this vacation I did not think to respond to the three people who commented on my last blog posting until just now, and since I need to post this today, I will not take the time to do so. However, I do want to acknowledge that this is a mistake on my part for as I write I find I have questions for the folks who commented that know their answers would undoubtedly add depth to this article.

One person who commented on my previous article stated that he thought people should be given a pass on handheld devices when communicating. He ended his point by writing, “thr iz no nd 2 b perf. U no wh I mean?” For the sake of the article I am going to assume that this person, who goes by Peter in his comment, is perhaps in the age range of 20-30 (An age range that is a cross between the Millennials and Gen X’ers) I find it intriguing that Peter’s attitude appears to be one of dismissal towards the advice provided by someone with hiring power. There is much reason to be perfect when communicating with anyone who has the power to hire or fire regardless of the tool used to connect. Not only is it common sense but it is also demonstrating consideration and respect to the person you are relating to on a professional level.

Peter’s response concerns me as a Generation X’er: When a person, culture or generation becomes out-of-touch with a provision (compensation, resources or tools for survival) apathy increases and complacency settles. It brings up questions regarding which is more of an investment in the success of our future: Our ability to be a leader in the moment with whatever technology is most popular? Or our desire and effort to be the source of long-term leadership within our community of peers? But alas, I digress, this is a completely different topic altogether and one for future discussion.

Another contributor to the comments from my last posting, Rob S., pointed out something quite valuable about our personal branding efforts. “There is a common misconception that ANY content we publish online is good content - it's like saying, "any PR is good PR". Well, it's certainly not true - you're only as good your last engagement.” Rob is quite accurate in his observations: we are only as good as our last engagement when it comes to the eyes of society (which includes our professional communities). Despite that someone may have created a following using their words, ideas and visions, the people who read, study or follow are going to have opinions about that person’s work if there is incorrect data, poorly misunderstood concepts, or misrepresentation of the work of others. It appears that allowances and expectations are being taken for granted because of the onslaught of new technology which does not provide ample communication platforms.

Are we willing to allow technology to dictate our communication evolution? Are we really willing to jeopardize our ability to build upon our leadership and brand with authenticity and integrity by dwindling communication platforms? I’m not and I don’t believe I’m alone in my stand.
The third and final person to comment on my last posting was from the West Coast Bureau and they brought up a fantastic point, one that really encompasses the mission of what personal and professional branding is really about - does who we are leave our communities touched, moved and inspired? Are we someone of character, quality and interest that engages another such that they want to share with us just as we have shared with them?

This person from the WCB says “As for our perceptions of other people, when it comes to Facebook and Twitter, the things that make me judge other people are when they are consistently negative or condescending, because no matter how smart they are, I know that they are people I would not want to work with or hang out with in "real life." “

As a recruiter and someone who is committed to encouraging others in my life to aspire to their greatest potential, I do consider the quality of communications from the people in my communities. Are they demonstrating the quality of character that inspires me to be great? To be a leader and to motivate others to do the same? If they aren’t I’m not interested in having them work on my team.

Life is too short to be anything less than our potential. Read Tuesday’s With Morrie, or talk with someone who is an elder, or dying too soon of an disease and listen to what’s important in having a fulfilled life - one where we are surrounded with extraordinary people doing extraordinary things and being respectful in how we build relationships with the people in our lives that will make a difference. Do we want to be leaders? Do we want to surround ourselves with extraordinary people? Then we must invest time to be extraordinary ourselves, life is too short to be anything but.

Author:

Kris Parfitt is the Operations Manager with Lenati (www.lenati.com). She’s busy wrangling their extraordinary marketing consultants while sourcing exceptional ones.”

The last three days have been filled with mountain biking in Sun Valley, Idaho with the last few hours of this morning spent learning to fly fish. During these times I’ve been thinking often about leadership, personal branding in our communities and how best do we want to show up in our lives for others.

My article today is a follow up on the posting from June 23, 2009, What You Say Alters Your Outcome and ties in my thoughts this week and the comments provided by three readers from the last posting.

Before I left for this vacation I did not think to respond to the three people who commented on my last blog posting until just now, and since I need to post this today, I will not take the time to do so. However, I do want to acknowledge that this is a mistake on my part for as I write I find I have questions for the folks who commented that know their answers would undoubtedly add depth to this article.

One person who commented on my previous article stated that he thought people should be given a pass on handheld devices when communicating. He ended his point by writing, “thr iz no nd 2 b perf. U no wh I mean?” For the sake of the article I am going to assume that this person, who goes by Peter in his comment, is perhaps in the age range of 20-30 (An age range that is a cross between the Millennials and Gen X’ers) I find it intriguing that Peter’s attitude appears to be one of dismissal towards the advice provided by someone with hiring power. There is much reason to be perfect when communicating with anyone who has the power to hire or fire regardless of the tool used to connect. Not only is it common sense but it is also demonstrating consideration and respect to the person you are relating to on a professional level.

Peter’s response concerns me as a Generation X’er: When a person, culture or generation becomes out-of-touch with a provision (compensation, resources or tools for survival) apathy increases and complacency settles. It brings up questions regarding which is more of an investment in the success of our future: Our ability to be a leader in the moment with whatever technology is most popular? Or our desire and effort to be the source of long-term leadership within our community of peers? But alas, I digress, this is a completely different topic altogether and one for future discussion.

Another contributor to the comments from my last posting, Rob S., pointed out something quite valuable about our personal branding efforts. “There is a common misconception that ANY content we publish online is good content - it's like saying, "any PR is good PR". Well, it's certainly not true - you're only as good your last engagement.” Rob is quite accurate in his observations: we are only as good as our last engagement when it comes to the eyes of society (which includes our professional communities). Despite that someone may have created a following using their words, ideas and visions, the people who read, study or follow are going to have opinions about that person’s work if there is incorrect data, poorly misunderstood concepts, or misrepresentation of the work of others. It appears that allowances and expectations are being taken for granted because of the onslaught of new technology which does not provide ample communication platforms.

Are we willing to allow technology to dictate our communication evolution? Are we really willing to jeopardize our ability to build upon our leadership and brand with authenticity and integrity by dwindling communication platforms? I’m not and I don’t believe I’m alone in my stand.
The third and final person to comment on my last posting was from the West Coast Bureau and they brought up a fantastic point, one that really encompasses the mission of what personal and professional branding is really about - does who we are leave our communities touched, moved and inspired? Are we someone of character, quality and interest that engages another such that they want to share with us just as we have shared with them?

This person from the WCB says “As for our perceptions of other people, when it comes to Facebook and Twitter, the things that make me judge other people are when they are consistently negative or condescending, because no matter how smart they are, I know that they are people I would not want to work with or hang out with in "real life." “

As a recruiter and someone who is committed to encouraging others in my life to aspire to their greatest potential, I do consider the quality of communications from the people in my communities. Are they demonstrating the quality of character that inspires me to be great? To be a leader and to motivate others to do the same? If they aren’t I’m not interested in having them work on my team.

Life is too short to be anything less than our potential. Read Tuesday’s With Morrie, or talk with someone who is an elder, or dying too soon of an disease and listen to what’s important in having a fulfilled life - one where we are surrounded with extraordinary people doing extraordinary things and being respectful in how we build relationships with the people in our lives that will make a difference. Do we want to be leaders? Do we want to surround ourselves with extraordinary people? Then we must invest time to be extraordinary ourselves, life is too short to be anything but.

Author:

Kris Parfitt is the Operations Manager with Lenati (www.lenati.com). She’s busy wrangling their extraordinary marketing consultants while sourcing exceptional ones.”

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