Your clients and prospects want to know about you. They’re reading your website and social media before hiring you. They’re making small talk with you during property tours.
Sharing certain aspects of your life outside work adds value to your business, but careless or unprofessional sharing can hinder it. 你如何做到平衡? Consider these questions before you speak or type.
我的评论是否恰当? What you wear to the beach is different than what you wear to a high-powered meeting. 这个故事, 活动, or opinion from your personal life may not be appropriate in a business setting. Would sharing this make people not want to work with you?
是局部的吗?? You may have the funniest 10-minute story about your great aunt’s vacation, but your clients don’t need to hear it. Even if you are a gifted storyteller, short, sweet, and relevant is best for most situations.
谁是我的听众? You might want to steer clear of hot-button topics like politics and religion. Ask yourself if your audience may be offended by what you share. Even if you are talking with someone you believe shares your views, these topics still present unique risks. Would you share this information with any client? 如果不是，重新考虑.
它传递了什么信息? Your stories tell your audience who you are. People will draw one conclusion if you tell a story about saving a kitten that fell into a sewer. 相反, a story about playing a practical joke on your spouse may come off as insensitive rather than funny.
它吸引人吗?? You are trying to connect with people. Is what you are about to share enjoyable to hear or see? Does it inform or entertain them? 这会让他们更喜欢你吗?
有必要说出来吗? 有时候少即是多. Your clients don’t need an overly detailed explanation of why you were 15 minutes late. 一个简短的道歉就足够了. A long list of excuses belabors the point and can be off-putting.