Month: December 2015

Archives for December 2015

Assess your Likability with Lakeside Executive Suites

Likability has won presidential elections, fueled amazing comebacks, made box office history, and turned small businesses into large corporations. With social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, it’s become even easier to determine your likability. How many positive comments do you receive on your posts? How many people follow your tweets or Facebook feed? How many connections do you have in your LinkedIn profile? How likable are you? The power of likability is endless and can drive the answers to these questions and more.

Business owners are always on the perpetual quest to generate more connections, more leads, and increase sales, but it won’t happen without likability. Companies and clients don’t refer you — people do — so your likability factor is the front door that helps get things started. Here are some questions to ask yourself to better determine just how likable you are…

Are you knowledgeable in your field?

Being a subject matter expert in your field is an important aspect of likability. Don’t try to “wing” your way through questions and topics related to your field. Take the time to educate yourself and stay current on the latest trends. Your end goal is to be thought of as “the best of” in your field.

Are you credible?

Establish your expertise over time through data, testimonials, and referrals. Don’t be timid to communicate your knowledge through writing, volunteering, public speaking engagements, or project leadership, so people can see you in action.

Are you honest?

Honesty is always the best policy…100% of the time. If you make a mistake, admit fault in the most appropriate way. People relate to imperfect people so don’t be afraid to be one.

Are you pleasant?

Create the most enjoyable experience you can with people and for people, so they enjoy being around you.

Are you optimistic?

Nothing is worse than a glass half empty approach. Negativity has a way of sucking the air out of a room, conversation, or potential business deal.  Good energy is vital to a successful company.

Are you consistent?

Consistency has one of the greatest impacts on likability. People want to know what they are getting every time they walk into your business, office, or front door. A lack of consistency in personality and product quality can be detrimental to any small business owner.

Are you caring?

The power of kindness and caring never go out of style. People gravitate towards people that are caring, empathetic, and authentic. Expressing care and concern for others makes people feel valued and appreciated. It is a key component to your brand.

At Lakeside Executive Suites, we believe our likability sets us apart from all other office space providers. Our focus is on providing the highest quality experience to the business owners we serve and their clients. Lakeside Executive Suites is South Florida’s premier workspace provider offering your business the space, place, and support it needs for success. Our workspace solutions include full service office space and virtual office solutions which provide a professional meeting space, turn-key corporate image, and a place to conduct business. Our full range of support services, prestigious mailing address, bilingual support staff, and professional meeting facilities are available at prices any size business can afford.

Lakeside Executive Suites welcomes you to come assess our likability and see what we can do for your business. To learn more visit us on the web at www.lesweston.com or call (954) 389-2511.

Source: Small Business TRENDS

Improve Your Social Awareness

Maya Angelou once said, “Words mean more than what is set down on paper.” With words, there is no spell check or thesaurus and we’ve all said things that came out the wrong way or were interpreted much differently than expected. Sometimes your first interaction is your only interaction, so it’s important to get your words right and make an impactful first impression.

TalentSmart tested the emotional intelligence (EQ) of more than a million people and discovered that social awareness is a skill that many of us are lacking. We lack social awareness because we’re so focused on what we’re going to say next — and how what other people are saying affects us — that we completely lose sight of how our words affect other people.

However, the beauty of social awareness is that a few simple adjustments can vastly improve your relationships with other people. Here are seven social offenders to avoid in any casual conversation to ensure you are on your way to better social awareness.

1. “You look tired.”

A much better alternative to “you look tired” is to simply ask if everything is okay. Most people ask if someone is tired because they want to show care and concern, however it makes the person on the receiving end feel less attractive

2. “Wow, you’ve lost so much weight!”

Telling someone that he or she has lost a lot of weight suggests that they used to look heavy or unattractive. Instead say: “You look fantastic.” This one is an easy fix. Instead of comparing how someone looks now with how they use to look, a simple compliment goes a long way. It takes the past right out of the picture.

3. “You always…” or “You never…”

No one always or never does anything. People don’t see themselves as one-dimensional, so you shouldn’t attempt to define them as such. These phrases make people defensive and closed off to your message.

4. “You look great for your age.”

Using “for your” as a qualifier always comes across as condescending. No one wants to be told they are attractive and old. Instead say: “You look great.” Another easy fix! Genuine compliments don’t need qualifiers.

5. “As I said before…”

We all forget things from time to time. This phrase makes it sound as if you’re insulted at having to repeat yourself, which is hard on the recipient (someone who is genuinely interested in hearing your perspective).

6. “Good luck.”

Although not the worst thing to say, “good luck” can have a touch of doubt or unbelief woven into it. Instead say: “I know you have what it takes.”

7. “It’s up to you.” or “Whatever you want.”

While you may be indifferent to the question, your opinion is important to the person asking (or else he wouldn’t have asked you in the first place). Instead say: “I don’t have a strong opinion either way, but a couple things to consider are…” When you offer an opinion (even without choosing a side), it shows that you care about the person asking.

Lakeside Executive Suites believes in everyday conversation and in life, it’s the little things that make all the difference. For this reason, we are South Florida’s premium choice for workspace solutions. Detail oriented with your needs in mind, Lakeside Executive Suites is Weston’s premier office space provider offering full service office space and virtual office solutions. Our first-class business center and bilingual support staff have everything your business needs for success. From executive meeting rooms to live phone answering service, mail receipt and mail forwarding services, reception service, and a prestigious business address…our amenities, location, and staff set us apart from other workspace providers.

Gain time back in your day with Lakeside Executive Suites so you can ensure every interaction is a positive, beneficial one. To learn more visit us on the web at www.lesweston.com or call (954) 389-2511.

Source: Inc.com

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