The longer I live, the more I realize that in many cases, a lot of folks don’t really carry a lot of credibility. In other words, I think a lot of folks are, frankly, full of shit. We are promised one thing, then individuals perform differently. We think we have someone’s commitment, but find they really weren’t all in. It’s harder and harder to discern what’s real and what isn’t, and who can be relied upon and who can’t
With that in mind, I thought I’d offer up some suggestions on how to be taken seriously. This might be helpful advice if you’re trying to influence someone and might be very beneficial to younger folks who are trying to find their place in the world.
1. Be Current on Current Events. I know most folks don’t care much for the news. Frankly, I can’t blame them. I used to be a news junkie every evening, watching around 2 hours of the evening news. For the sake of my mental health, I no longer do that. However, I stay up on current events by reading at least four news apps cover to cover, just to get a 360 degree perspective. That’s important. News channels frame the news the way their particular viewer prefer to get it. If you don’t believe me, next time you go to the gym and run on the treadmill, watch the TV news on the screens in front of you. FOX and MSNBC will report the exact same incident but frame it with their particular ideology.
Regardless, having a knowledge of current events gives you something to reference when you talk to people. When I taught workshops, I always tried to tie in a current event and relate it to the topic. It really gives whatever you do a fresh look.
2. Be Reliable. Increasingly, I’m impressed with people, events, and services that actually start on time. When was the last time you stood outside a store or business, and it opened EXACTLY at the hour the sign says it would? I can’t remember. I’ve stood outside of Sam’s Club, Costco, Kroger, LabCorp, and many others. When someone I book an appointment with shows up on time, it’s more of the anomaly and not the norm. I’m typically shocked when a flight I’m booked on leaves on time. Mediocrity seems to be the standard, and anything slightly above seems amazing. To be taken seriously, be EARLY and ready to go at the appointed time. I guarantee you’ll make a great impression.
3. Be Assertive. Assertive is not to be confused with aggressive. Assertive means that you take the lead in any type of interaction. Introduce yourself rather than wait to be introduced. Offer a firm handshake instead of accepting one. Ask others their name and ask them questions about what they do rather than ask for a favor first. On another note, though, if you’re already assertive, be prepared to tone it down if you typically intimidate and annoy others. Assertiveness needs to be practiced with the right amount of balance.
So, there’s the three places you can get started. Work on these and you’ll have a much better chance of being taken seriously. The standards, sadly, are low. It won’t take much to stand out in a positive way.
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