We’ve all done it: said the wrong thing at the wrong time to someone we thought we knew or knew about. The point here is be careful what you to anybody as they may not be as they seem.
A business associate related a story to me the other evening that got me to thinking about these kinds of situations. Earlier in the week my friend had accompanied her daughter on a field trip by the little girl’s school to an ice rink. The group was putting on their skates and milling around waiting to get started when someone requested if any parents would be able to show some basic skating moves. My friend’s daughter volunteered her mom, who promptly went out and executed a perfect spin and glided across the ice like a professional. Unbeknownst to all but my colleague and her girl, my friend had trained for years as a skater up to becoming a professional. This was not a bragging situation but a way to share her skills and have some fun. But no one knew of her special skills.
On the same trip, my friend found herself sitting next to several moms trading stories about kids. In most of these situations the assumption is that these moms (or dads) are stay-at-home parents and this is a usual occurrence in their child’s life. However, after some polite conversation, my friend discerned that one of her fellow moms actually was a practicing physician and a pediatric heart specialist.
The point of these stories is not that we want to keep information from anybody. But don’t assume you are superior or inferior to anyone and certainly choose your words carefully. Avoid being boastful or a know-it-all. But at the same time, be assured in who you are and answer questions truthfully and honestly.
Discovery and honesty are a big part of effective networking. Just be careful and don’t assume anything.
Relentless
