How are you feeling today?
Many of us came together in person last week at the incredible Elevate Summit in NYC… so maybe you’re feeling great. Maybe you’re feeling a little tired. Or nervous about the commercial you’re going to give in front of 90 people a little later in this meeting. Maybe you’re excited about a new piece of business you just closed. Or worried about a friend or loved one — someone you know who received some challenging news.
My clients will tell you that working with me means not navigating by feelings. Because they change like the weather. But feelings are also the very fabric of our humanity.
So this morning, we’re going to keep it simple — really fundamental.
If we want to be better networkers, better business people, better leaders, even better human beings, we need to pay extra close attention to feelings. Those of others and those of ourselves.
Remember, while the people we do business with will of course remember the key deal points and the elements that are promised and written down, they won’t remember every word we say. There’s too much data. But they will absolutely remember the way we made them feel. The heart doesn’t forget.
And the next time, whether they are drawn in and motivated to respond (and buy), or they are unmotivated — or worse, avoidant — will largely be a result of that emotional footprint we leave behind.
Ever have a rough night of drinking a particular spirit when you were young? Or end up getting food poisoning from a particular restaurant? There are people in this world — maybe even on this meeting — that can’t get within ten feet of Rumple Minze or SoCo or some other kind of schnapps they over did it with in college. And how fast are you going to head back to the place that served you up that bad Kung Pao? You’re not. Like… ever.
Yes, intellectually we understand what happened. But it’s the emotional imprint — the grooves in the records of our feelings that dictate future outcomes.
And for good reason. These are mechanisms that have been around since the dawn of time, before humans stood up and walked on two legs. And they kept us safe.
Again, awareness of where the other people in the equation are in terms of their feelings — essentially their experience of the moment — is going to serve you and them.
Now more than ever, during a time when certain resources seem in short supply, and people can be somewhat closed off to new possibilities, this level of awareness will foster connection, the finding of common ground, and the relationship building that will support you to really engage with your client or customer.
So stay present to the experiences of your people. Feelings are the trail of breadcrumbs to our humanity. And humanity is what we all share, where we all come together.
Here’s to us — to each of us, and to capital U — the collective — US. And to being sensitive and aware enough to pay attention in the ways that make a real difference… and lead to good business.
