Every now and then I would bump into someone who would eventually ask me, “So, what do you do?” It’s one of my least favorite questions. The worst of all scenarios, however, is introducing myself in public settings. I hate it. And that’s just putting it mildly.
Yet, I end up sharing a rambling of an introduction that almost always warrants a clarification during breaks and breakout sessions. Not exactly my idea of a great conversation but it’s almost always my fault. And these folks aren’t alone, my family at large doesn’t have a clue what I do for a living! If you’re sensing a “lack of communication,” let me assure you that’s not the case. It’s just that normal people don’t understand the idea of wearing many hats and having multiple specializations.
It’s far easier for me to tell them that I’m an accountant or in the human resources instead of an operations director of a global recruitment, staffing, and marketing services agency, an executive coach, an organizational development consultant, and a strength & conditioning coach! Do you see the problem? And believe me, I don’t even add writing and podcasting (and a martial artist… perhaps near future) to the mix!
If you’re on the same boat, I guess we need to think this over real hard. And here’s a simple practice that I learned from George Kao that can help you narrow down on the essence of your being.
- Imagine your ideal client
- What is the work you’re doing with them?
- What’s different for the client after working with you?
- What was the “before” like?
That’s it! The result of this exercise is something I would put in the “about me” or “services that I offer” section. If you’re like me and would like to explore more about this exercise, check out George Kao’s exhaustive tutorials on his blog. If you’re a visual person, check out his video below:
It’s a soothing exercise that could (don’t be surprised) bring a lot out of you. It certainly helped me a lot. (Not that my conversations are much fun now than before but definitely manageable!)