We all know it’s important to be seen in business today. We set up profiles everywhere, cover all channels and get busy with publications and social media.
We have our face and brand all over our websites, marketing collateral and videos trying to break through the ever increasing noise and congestion of the online world.
We’re out there turning up at events, speaking with people we meet and sharing our message as best we can.
But is it working? Is it enough?
Are you truly getting a good bang for your “get your face out there” buck?
I’m sure some days you feel exhausted and so over the selfie and must-be-seen behaviour that creeps into our every day.
Your perfectly positioned coffee cup with a view.
Your Pinterest worthy workspace.
Your big smile at the beach/office/theatre [insert your very own selfie op here]….
Or rocking up to yet another networking event with your pitch all ready and your smile firmly pasted in place.
But do you feel like people are really hearing what you have to say, or just seeing a glimpse of the real you?
It’s the story and emotion that people connect with, not the fancy tagline.
We’re often so caught up in the image we want to portray or our perfectly crafted tagline that we forget to let people see who we really are. We forget that real people are out there looking for someone who understands them.
During the Your Story Matters program I’m co-facilitating with Team Women Australia, we’ve been helping women dive deeper into their story so they can truly be heard.
Rather than simply focus on the message they want to share, we spent time diving into the emotion of what they went through. We crafted their story in a way that connected much more with the people that needed to hear it.
Many of our participants say they’re now able to connect with their audience on a much deeper level and have added a whole new dimension and depth to what they want to share.
People are listening to their messages now. They get it, but more importantly they remember it.
We want to see the real you, the raw you.
One of the biggest compliments I get is that people say I’m just the same in real life as the person I portray online. It’s as if people expect the real life version to be different to the online version.
Silly but true…
So next time you put yourself out there, make sure you let us see more of who you really are.
We want to know what makes you dance inside.
We want to know you understand where we’re at.
We want to know why you do what you do.
We want to know the emotions you feel.
It’s lovely to see what you’re up to throughout your day, but sharing your story helps us see what’s going on inside your heart and mind.
Being seen is important, but don’t forget to let people see your real story so you can be truly heard.
