Business networking Tips
Are Your Judgments Costing You Business?
Filtered through our memories of good and bad past experiences, our judgments and evaluations happen in an instant. This happens subconsciously. I don’t think that we’re even aware to the depth of which our judgments control our actions. Everything and everyone, we’re judging all the time. Unfortunately, most of the time our judgments and preconceived notions are WRONG! These preconceived notions and judgements can really hurt us when it comes to business networking. Here’s an example;Recall the last time you were driving and saw a cop in your rear view mirror. Exactly what went through your mind? Were you actually doing anything “wrong”?
Just like the police in your rear view mirror, when you see someone you judge whether they’re fat, or thin, loud or quiet, attractive or ugly, and darn near anything else about them. Your mind has a series of pre conditioned responses to what your seeing. Which may not be good at networking events. Here, I’m not talking about your intuitions and inner knowings. They’re always accurate. The problem is when we don’t listen to our inner knowings. I don’t always listen.
Here’s how this works, from personal experience. Halle Berry is my favorite actress. In both business and my personal life, this physical attraction has caused me problems. Whenever I meet someone that resembles ‘Halle Berry’, I ignore my intuition which usually goes something like this:’the outside maybe more attractive than the inside’. I’ve had financial and emotional costs to ignoring my intuition. When we find someone repelling, it’s the same thing happening. Sound familiar?
We automatically make up our minds about other people in 3 to 4 seconds. I’m sure you’ve heard ‘You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression’. This is certainly true. Regardless of how we dress, look or present ourselves we have little to no control over how we are perceived by others. BUT, We do have absolute control over how we perceive other people.
Here is the bottom line for your business. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover or a business networking partner (power partner) either.