Talk to the Person Who Gets You
So, we've talked about what words to use as you communicate on video or on camera. Now, let's talk about how you say those words.
Stiffness and formality are not professionalism. Look it up. They aren’t synonyms. So many of us slip into that pattern because we believe we should be acceptable and respectable and that equates to uptight and boring.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are the times when we feel like we have to be like a cheerleader on steroids because we're supposed to show personality. It is true that you're supposed to show personality. Yours. Your personality. Not anyone else's.
If you're having difficulty even imagining how to strike that right tone of being yourself, pretend like you’re communicating with the person who makes you most comfortable. It could be your best friend. It could be your parent. It could be your partner. It could be a spouse. Or, it could be that one co-worker who is always your cheerleader and you never feel judged. Whoever that person is, pretend like you are sharing your information with that person.
No one has to know who you picked. So, don’t worry about picking the ‘right’ person. Pick whoever feels right and then listen to how you sound when you record yourself. That's you you're hearing and that's who we all need to meet.