WEEKEND WISDOM

Put Some "Wow" in Your Personality!

  Chris Widener

What is "wow?" Well, you know when you come out of a meeting or party after just meeting someone for the first time and you say, "Wow. Tom was a really great guy." That is "wow."

"Wow" isn't terribly difficult and the good news is that almost anybody can become "wow" if they work at it. And the best news about "wow" is that when it is coupled with excellent skills and a strong character, it will boost your success incredibly. Why? Because people want to be around "wow" people. They want to follow "wow" people. They want to help "wow" people.

So let's talk a little bit about how to put a little "wow" into your personality. Here are my top tips:

Care. I mean really care. The rest of these can be vacant if someone who just doesn't care about others does them. The first thing we can do to get some "wow" is to genuinely care about others. In this day and age, just caring will draw people to you and make them say, "wow."

Smile. I love a smiling person. It shows happiness and freedom. It is something that draws you to another person. I would suggest that you practice smiling if you have to. Stand in front of the mirror and get used to it! Now when you meet people, be sure to smile. When they leave they will say, "Wow, she was a friendly person!"

Ask questions. There is nothing worse than John "Let me tell you a story about myself" Smith. No, a "wow" personality learns to ask questions about the other person they are engaged in conversation with. People love to talk about themselves, right? So why not give them the chance! Be sincerely curious about their lives, family and work. In doing so, you will create some "wow."

Look them in the eyes. Looking at someone in the eyes is a core of a "wow" personality. It is about trust, honesty and connection. When you can't or don't look someone in the eyes they don't think "wow," they think "I wonder why he can't look me in the eyes."

Gain a broad base of knowledge. The more topics you can carry on a basic conversation about the more "wow" you will instill into the next meeting or party you go to. Now I am not saying you should gain knowledge for knowledge's sake or so you can "wow" someone so you can sell him or her something. My thought is that we live in such a wonderful, magnificent world that I LOVE to learn all I can about its diversity and the diversity of the people who inhabit it. And when you can bring that knowledge to the table, you'll get the "wow" you've been waiting for.

Compliment people sincerely. You can always find something to compliment someone on. I am not talking about false flattery but something that you truly respect and admire about someone. Compliment someone in the right way and you will find them saying, "Wow, I like that person!"

Don't take yourself too seriously. People who take themselves too seriously never hear "wow," except as in "Wow, he needs to loosen up." That isn't the kind of "wow" we are looking for. We are looking for the kind of "wow" that comes from people knowing that we are just ordinary people (who achieve extraordinary things of course!) You want people to say, "Wow, she's really down to earth for being so successful."


Want some "wow" in your personality? Try some of the above on for size. Work hard to make them a part of your life and see if you don't find others saying, "WOW!" a little more often!