Imagine yourself walking into social gatherings – happy hours, get togethers, barbecues and road trips – are people excited to see you? When you come through the door and see people you know, how do they greet you? Do they offer big smiles, loud welcomes, and huge hugs? Or do they make eye contact, give a quick nod and turn back to their conversations?
While this doesn’t always say something about you, you take stock and start paying attention to it. This can be an indicator of how much value you add to your network, your company, your social circles. There should be rooms and places where you show up where it’s obvious that you are well-received. When people are excited to see you and greet you with enthusiasm, you can know that you’ve added value to their lives and they want more!
What Do People Do When They Hear Your Name?
Think about it this way. You talk about other people all the time. When a colleague’s name comes up, there’s a reaction from you and other people. What you and others initially think and feel speaks about their reputation.
Likewise, you have a reputation out there. When people think about you or talk about you, are they thinking positively about you? Are they endorsing you with others? When they receive an email or a text from you, are they excited to see your name and eager to respond?
The wonderful way that business and relationships work is that nobody has to deal with you.
If you are difficult, unethical, selfish, greedy, or narcissistic, you may get a shot at mistreating or mishandling initial interactions; however, people self-correct and simply avoid you.
However, if you are pleasant, caring, helpful, valuable and fun, then the world opens up.
Always ask yourself whether people are excited to see you.
You may not be able to change the world and how it works, but you can work on yourself and be a person of immense value. You can be someone who is a gift that people love to receive. Your presence and your company can be total delight.
Be a Person of Value
Here are a few tips if you want to be welcomed, invited back and considered a person of value:
- Bring gifts
- Send encouraging texts
- Introduce people that can help each other
- Learn and share ideas that help
- Make people laugh
- Help clean up
- Be a gentleman/lady with impeccable manners. Always.
- Show loyalty
- Jump in and be a friend in a crisis
- Keep your word.
You have to care about others and be eager. They will be eager to speak highly of you as well as want to see you at their next events.
