10
and
to
SIMPLE
"PLAYS"
stop
out
selling
and
start
standing
out
Play #1
Change your Out-of-Office (OOO) message
Don’t: “I will be out of the office. I will be checking email periodically. I will get back to you as soon as I can.”
Do: “Taking a much needed break from the craziness. I’ll get back to you when I’m well-rested and less cranky.”
Play #2
Don’t: Write it in third person (even Oprah probably writes her own!). Also, don’t just put a bunch of industry buzzwords in a snoozy diatribe.
Do: Tell a story, even make fun of yourself a bit. Expose something that people wouldn’t expect you to expose.
Update your LinkedIn
“About” section
Play #3
Open a meeting with a story
Don’t: Start a meeting jumping right into the agenda.
Do: Engage and set the tone with a great opening story. It can be as simple as something that happened to you that morning that’s a great metaphor for what you’re trying to overcome and accomplish at the meeting or for that project.
Play #4
Rewrite you value proposition
Don’t: Write it with a bunch of righteous, fancy buzzwords that sounds like every other company's value proposition.
Do: Add in more emotion and connection with a few unexpected, plain-language words like "We wake up every day obsessed with making you look good."
Play #5
Renovate your
introduction to make it irresistible
Don’t: Tell them all the jobs you had and things you’ve worked on.
Do: Create a centerpiece story that includes a humility moment and takes others on a journey to understand who you are, how you got where you’re at, and most importantly, why that should matter to them.
Play #6
Update your resume summary
Don’t: “Seeking a position that allows me to expand upon my previous blah blah experience and work in a fast-paced, disruptive, mission-driven organization.”
Do: “My superpower is the ability to dissect and analyze data one minute and then lead a strategic conversation explaining it to non-data people the next minute. I’m excited to transform your company’s data strategy and help you achieve your big goals.”
Play #7
Create authentic connections
Don’t: Set up meetings with other people that you think can help you and then blab on about what you're looking for or need help with.
Do: Set up time with people where you think you can mutually help each other. For example, if you're looking to connect with an old mentor, first think about where you can also help them as well. It can be as simple as recommending a book that made you think of them to something more substantial like connecting them with a leader at a company that could help advance their business or career.
Play #8
Include your child(ren) in a project
you’re working on
Don’t: Create the Great Wall of China between work and your children.
Do: Get their input on a project you’re working on. Let them sit in on a call you’re having. Take them with you to a conference.
Play #9
Do the unexpected
Don’t: Show up to a meeting doing exactly what people expect.
Do: Do one small, unexpected thing. Wear something unique. Make fun of something about you that people don’t expect you to expose. Dance where no one else is dancing.
Play #10
Shake up a presentation
Don’t: Put together and present a perfectly designed presentation.
Do: Add in some fun pictures, a story, etc. Or if you want to be a true pro, scrap them altogether and create a completely unique presentation that focuses on tangible examples, prototypes, and stories to engage and persuade the other party.
