Dot Connector

There’s an old saying that goes “you have to tell your story or someone will tell it for you.”

That single principle, that you have to be continuously “telling your story,” is an essential business communication tip.

Why? Think about these sample situations:

• You work for 3 years with a high-level executive. Then, that executive is replaced with another. The new person might not know all of the things you have accomplished or plan to implement.
• You work with a large project team where new team members are rotated in and out of projects on a frequent basis. If you haven’t created a good story (and chronicled your successes and failures), new project team members will have a hard time assimilating into the team.
• You work in a large organization where you may come into contact with tens, or even hundreds, of different people across your different projects. It’s always best if your good reputation preceded you.

Ok, but am I saying you should brag about yourself? Absolutely not. So then how do you tell your story?

1. Connect the Dots! If there are projects you are working on that others might benefit from knowing about, tell them! Remember, tell your story by talking about “what’s in it for them.” They’ll appreciate that you were thinking about them, and it will build trust between you.
2. Create a Weekly Paper Newsletter! I created a newsletter called The Weekly WOW! for a controversial project that involved over 75 people. I used this newsletter to communicate the progress of the project (complete with a countdown to launch), share stories about the project team’s individual accomplishments, and include motivational quotes. People loved it! It wasn’t a voicemail, and it wasn’t (another!) email, it was just clear, beneficial information about the project that showed up as a printed newsletter at everyone’s desk on Fridays. (Side note: the project was a huge success!)
3. Use Voicemail to Get the Word Out! Do you send a weekly voicemail update to your “Clients” about your progress? If so, great! If not, why not? Share the great information you know with them. You can also use voicemail to share when you can’t see them in person. If this idea interests you, be sure to check out my 10 Tips to Improve Your Voicemails post.

Tell your story and you’ll be amazed how much it can help you!

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