THE JOURNEY BEGINS . . .

This book is all about you. It’s about helping you to recognize and reinforce your strengths and increase your awareness of what you could be unconsciously doing to undermine your success—and the perception that you want others to have of you.

The information and strategies shared in this book stem from the thousands of questions, concerns, and challenges that I’ve been asked about, best practices shared, and the many important topics broached by professionals across geography, industry, position, and gender. It’s geared toward the standards of professional business environments in the United States. This information may very well be appropriate for application in other countries and corporate cultures that have similar business standards and customs. If you work abroad or for an international company based in the United States, it’s also essential that you learn the specific country’s customs and courtesies as well as the particular workplace’s culture, expectations, and norms.

Throughout this journey, I will share important research and information, offer opportunities for coaching, and address how to navigate some of the most common and awkward workplace situations. I encourage you to take a moment to think about the exercises and questions posed in the “Coaching Corner” and how the information highlighted, or the questions asked, impact you. It’s in these moments, when you turn the mirror inside and think about how the information shared relates to you, that self-discovery and growth happen.

Some of the challenges and concerns consistently shared with me include:

“How do I deal with ‘difficult’ people?”

“What can I do to be a better listener?”

“How can I effectively communicate with higher-ups?”

“How can I get myself heard in a meeting?”

“What can I do to build my confidence when communicating?”

“If I’m seen as unapproachable, how do I fix that?”

“How do I stop someone from hijacking the conversation without damaging the relationship?”

By being aware of the communication challenges that you face, you can start to think about which strategies highlighted in the pages of this book will help you to best address them.

You are officially on your way to setting yourself apart and making a lasting impression at work. Here’s to learning the subtleties and secrets to achieving greater success!