A thought by John C. Maxwell from his
book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.
(p. 58). HarpersCollins Leadership Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title
to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
This is a very practical thought.
John says, “Move with a sense of purpose.”
He goes on, “When I was in college, I
wanted to get a job at a local grocery store. So did my college friend Steve
Benner, so he and I went together to apply for jobs. The manager met us at the
front of the store and asked us to follow him to the back. There we filled out
applications. Once we were done, he said he would let us know his decision
about whom he would hire the next day. Steve got the job.
“A few weeks later, I went to the
manager to ask him why he didn’t select me. I wondered if I’d put something on
the application that worked against me. ‘It had nothing to do with the
application,’ he responded. ‘I selected Steve because he walked to the back of
the store briskly and with more energy than you did.’”
John continues, “I have never
forgotten that experience. Isn’t it true that our perception of people differs
based on how they carry themselves? One person garners attention while another gets
ignored. One person commands respect while another doesn’t. I’ve heard that
robbers and pickpockets choose their victims based on body language. If somebody
walks briskly, confidently, and alertly, criminals will often let them pass and
look for another victim—someone lacking confidence and awareness.
“Movement always conveys a clear
message when someone desires to communicate. I am continually aware of this
whenever I’m on stage. I move quickly and confidently onto the stage because I
want people to know that I am eager to speak. I know that when I move closer to
my audience, it helps to create a feeling of greater intimacy. And I try to
keep from being too static. I know that if I move around every few minutes,
people feel my energy and are more likely to stay engaged with me.”
Do you move with a sense of purpose? Do you see how that makes a difference in your
desire to communicate?
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