How to increase your value by talking to invisible people

Raising your visibility and value at work. Deepening your engagement with your clients and stakeholders. Developing more trust and connection with colleagues. These are big, bold asks. And you can improve all of them by doing this one thing. And, speaking from direct experience: not many people do this at all.

I used to work as a receptionist. A role that mostly gets ignored by folk.

You’re in the background in many ways. Almost invisible, really.

That person who keeps the plants company. Answers phones. Smiles a lot. Gives people directions.

And not many people really talk to you.

But one person did.

How to develop a connection with others

He was a customer that visited once a month or so.

He spoke to me as a person.

Asked me how my weekend had been.

If I had holiday plans.

Then he actually remembered what I’d told him and asked about it next time he came in.

Simple, yes?

But huge.

Because hardly anyone does this. When you connect with someone on a human level and get curious and listen and then remember what you were told, it’s powerful.

I work with people to help them develop their communications skills to raise their visibility and value.

And most people think that means doing this up the way.

Impressing the folk with power who makes decisions.

And I get that.

The value of showing up with care and kindness

But it’s about how you treat everyone that you work with, as they say, even “the little people” who can’t do anything for you.

It’s about putting your best foot forward when you communicate no matter who it's with.

The attention you pay to them. How well you listen. Even if you listen to them.

How much time you give them from your busy day.

And showing that you see this person.

That they aren’t invisible.

When steps can you take to really engage with people you work with? What conversations can you start having or deepening?

And if improving your people skills, your communication skills and your career is something you’re interested in, drop me a line. I’d love to explore how I can support you.