It’s my pleasure to welcome prolific writer and photographer Olivia Ejura Alfa Oyibo (the lady behind the People of Abuja Facebook community) to Lizspire. I am confident that her Guest Blog will inspire and motivate you to get a personality that is a catalyst for your business growth — It inspired me.
Enjoy
I parked my car with some trepidation as I approached the intimidating gates of the house. Prior to my arrival, I had tried to find out some information about the potential client I was going to be meeting with in a few minutes. But I hadn’t come up with a lot seeing that it was an individual and not a corporate organization.
For a photographer, one would think these kinds of preparation don’t matter. It is after all a simple case of getting your client’s brief, shooting the photos as described by your client and delivering on the job on the mutually selected date. But not me; I didn’t want to be that kind of photographer. The type who hides behind her gear, instructs her client on what kind of pose to assume, how to smile, how to inch a leg forward, tilt a neck to the side and then stops at that. No. I wanted to be the photographer who made a connection with her clients. The type that knew about her clients’ businesses, their visions, their goals and generally what made them tick.
Related Reading:https://womentakingthelead.com/your-smile/
Seated in the foyer of her home a few minutes later, I took in her decor- white walls and simple furniture that revealed she was no doubt a minimalist. She walked in soon enough and I got up to greet her. She thanked me for coming over on such short notice and I told her it was no problem at all. Then I complimented her house and decor. She smiled and explained that she had always had a deep appreciation for architecture even though she hadn’t studied it at school. Then we talked about buildings, impressive structures around the world and furniture. She was obviously very knowledgeable. And I was glad that on my part, I enjoyed reading. You see, you can never underestimate the power of reading to learn and keep informed. It takes you places you have never been before without the hassles that come with visa processing, opens up your mind and enables you carry on a conversation intelligently.
Then we talked about family, work, photography and fashion before finally settling down to the reason she had asked me over. Let’s just say I left her that day glad I had made a connection. You see, I don’t know how it works in other fields, but in photography, most of the time, it is important that your client is comfortable with you and you with them in order to deliver excellent service. While some clients are naturally closed off and simply want the job done, it is important in many cases to work at building a connection.
The truth is skill would only get you so far. But a great attitude and personality is a very big plus. This comes to play very often in talent shows where a contestant appears on stage all warm and friendly and in spite of an average performance, you find the judges giving him/her a ticket to the next round. Does this mean we shouldn’t pay attention to improving on our skill set and acquiring more knowledge in our various fields? Not at all; as a matter of fact, we should aim to know more about what we do. There is nothing as annoying as the proverbial empty drum. Building on our emotional intelligence, having that friendly accessible personality has done more good than harm the world over. I would dare say it is one of the pillars of excellent customer service.
Related Reading: http://www.successconsciousness.com/positive_attitude.htm
Fast forward a few months… I was excited long after I was done with her job, this client called me simply to check up on me. That for me was a huge score as it revealed that I had gone beyond just being that photographer to her. I had become a business with a human face-one she could reach out to, run her ideas by and generally feel comfortable with. Isn’t that how referrals are gotten? Isn’t that how businesses grow and flourish? 
A few tips to having a great personality for business
- Look good
- Wear a smile
- Know your onions
- Ask questions that show your client you are paying attention
- Keep your phone away in a meeting scenario
- Have a good sense of humour
- Be present
- Be a good listener
- Be a good conversationalist
- Be punctual
Related Reading: https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/be-the-best-you-7-keys-to-a-positive-personality/
Do any of the forgoing describe you? Which do not? What will you do today to start building your personality into an unforgettable positive force that will sell not just you, but the business you represent?
The best way to really commit to any need for change is accountability. Will you accept our offer to keep you accountable? Write us and tell us the changes you want to make to your attitude and personality and we will reply with a suggested plan for you to make it real.
Eva Wright has a slew of resources available on it’s online shop that will help you on your journey freedom, empowerment, accomplishment and a positive attitude.
