A521.8.4.RB_Making Contact

This is a wonderful topic for me in that I have NO problems talking to strangers. I can vividly remember my mother telling me when I was a child that I “didn’t have a stranger” which meant I could talk to and become friends with just about anyone. I think since birth I have always had the “gift of the gab” and I felt that communication was something I had a knack for. As early as Kindergarten I can remember getting in trouble for talking too much because I just could keep my mouth shut; if I needed to say something I just would say it and I didn’t care who was or wasn’t listening (it was my voice and I wanted to be heard).

I enjoy communicating with people and I think that is why I went to college for communications specializing in public and cultural studies. I like to learn how people communicate with each other because I find it to be an important skill if you want to succeed in a managerial or leadership role. Understanding rhetoric and how to use it effectively can set you apart from others and it can give a person a competitive advantage over the rest of their colleagues.

If someone throws me into a situation where I am surrounded by new people I am usually the first people to strike up a conversation. I don’t think people need to be shy because although I understand people will judge you, if you have confidence other people’s thoughts and judgments will not matter. To be a leader need to be able to face fears and for some that fear is talking to strangers or not working a room at all. People have to learn to relax and allow themselves to mingle with others. I find that best way to network is by going to parties or social functions and talking to people. You really never know who you will mean or what they could do for your career and vice versa.

I really couldn’t imagine not being this way or being shy. I have a tendency at times to keep things to myself but when it comes to open dialectic and conversations I am happy to jump in and contribute to the conversation. I love to ask questions and get to know people. I think that is where my need to help others comes into play. I like to think of myself as a giver and when I contribute or learn ways to help others I am the first to jump on it. I rarely find myself intimidated by people (men or women) because in my eyes we are all human, no one is perfect and we all make mistakes so no one should be put higher than the rest.

Communication is a skill, it should be nurtured and used as often as possible; this includes verbal and nonverbal communication styles.