I’m writing this blog post while traveling home from a 2-day business trip to Las Vegas. The people watching in airports is fantastic!
Everywhere in my life, I aim for people to feel comfortable with me so that we can really connect and that ultimately guides them to positive and productive change in their professional and personal lives.
Knowing that people are attracted to my outgoing and energetic personality, I tend to initiate interaction with people all the time. That often looks like:
- I smile at them.
- I stand up straight and look people in the eye.
- I look for ways to be helpful in the moment.
- I make comments about our immediate environment.
- Etc.
I’m not looking for best friends, but I like to connect with my community – even in brief ways at the airport. For example, a few months ago while sitting in the Baltimore airport on my way home from the annual SHRM Conference, a retired couple sat next to me. Of course, we started chatting and by the end of the 10-minute conversation I had given them several travel tips for their trip to Utah and Wyoming. I LOVE (love, love, love) it when I can be helpful like that!
That type of interaction makes me feel more connected to the human community. I feel like I’m making a difference. That’s all integral to how I want people to perceive me – their perception is my personal brand. How do you want people to perceive you?