Are you ready to play the "role" of your life?

Every Monday morning, ProNet Reno incorporates a great speaker in their general meeting.  (Full disclosure: I am the Director of the Outreach Committee for ProNet Reno.)  This week, Clare Dreyer, SPHR was our presenter this past Monday and she courageously asked a bunch of unemployed professionals to pay attention to the rapport that we can establish with just our body language and eye contact.

Clare Dreyer, SPHR

Clare began with using a movie production metaphor.  It worked great in getting the point across that as in the audition process for an acting role, we are "trying out" for the part of the successful job candidate.  If you have ever been in a situation where you have been rejected for a job that you really want, Clare made us all feel very comfortable.  She had been there before...  in spades.  From personal to professional relationships, she had seen the ugly side, emerged from those setbacks and started a successful consulting firm.  It's called Evolve³.  To find out more, check out her website - www.evolve3consulting.com. 

Above all, her main point was that relationships were key.  And what is key?  Understanding that hiring managers hire a person that fits into the role that the open position requires to be productive and fit into the group (read: it's a culture fit).  So how to get there?  Network!  Talk to people in the organization about working there.  Ask someone to give you a strategic introduction.  Ask lots of questions.  Create a relationship so that when something does come up, you are "top of mind".

We played a rapport building game that really got everyone thinking about how about the importance eye contact and body language.  With three people to a group, one presented a story while the other two acted out different levels of attention.  Putting us all in different roles made us all feel what it was like to be in someone else's shoes and then look at how to react when someone is really listening or not.

Clare's enthusiasm, southern charm and passion for creating success was felt by all in the room.  So much so that many felt that she should come back in the future to present to the group.