Successful business guru and author Seth Godin has made the decision to stand out visually as well as intellectually by wearing bold orange-rimmed glasses. Photo: Supplied.
Amanda Setili says that we should strive for a positive point of difference – something that sets us apart from the crowd and helps those on whom we want to make an impression remember us.
I want to be known for my thinking, not my car or my clothing – that short sentence sums up my attitude when it comes to differentiating myself in business.
When it comes to many things, I am happy fitting in. When it comes to the quality of my ideas and my thought process, I want to stand out.
The question of whether you want to be the same as others or different deserves more attention than many people give it.
Business guru Seth Godin, author of more bestselling books than I can count, has for years worn bold orange glasses.
Seth has made the decision to stand out visually as well as intellectually, and both decisions seem to have worked well for him. However, my role is frequently to come into an organisation to build consensus among leadership teams.
I want to keep their attention on what wonderful things they can achieve together, rather than on the bold technicoloured jacket I decided to wear (not!).
It’s worth thinking about the ways you wish to stand out. For example, when I meet a new business colleague, I often make a choice of how I want to come across.
I’m a multifaceted person and I certainly want to be nice enough, smart enough, and courteous enough. However, depending on my perception of their needs, I might seek to stand out for my ability to build consensus, my ability to provoke a new way of thinking about a long-standing problem, or simply my ability to help someone laugh and feel at ease.
In a similar manner, you probably want to stand out in some way, just so that you’ll be memorable and so you can establish meaningful connections with others.
Be thoughtful about it: Do you want to be empathetic, provocative, or astute?
Naming the adjective in advance (to describe yourself) can make it more likely you will achieve your goal.
Amanda Setili helps successful leaders and their teams agree on what needs to change and how to make it happen. She is the author of Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets. Amanda can be contacted at www.setili.com. This article first appeared on Amanda’s website.
