Blog Post: Improving Your Talkability Factor

Her reputation long preceded our introduction. Back in 1993, I was living in San Antonio, Texas, and working in human resources for the largest medical center in the city. That’s when I first heard about Barbara Greene, affectionately known as the “networker from heaven.”

The “talkability” factor for Barbara was high back then (and still is today). She was pitched to me as “the single, must-meet person” in the career management field in San Antonio. I remember people referring to her as the “networking queen” and someone who could get you into almost anyone you wanted to meet. Although she may not know them personally, she would know someone who did.

At the time I met Barbara, I wanted to move into career management and out-placement work. I knew the bridge to making this transition would be my network… the people I knew, their resources and information.

I met Barbara through a co-worker and she was everything and more than what I had heard from my network. She convinced the president of the career management firm she worked for to interview me even though I wasn’t qualified “on paper” for the job. Because of Barbara’s influence and support, I got the job, which put me on the path to where I am today.

I was very lucky to have met the “networker from heaven” early in my career. I’m literally one of hundreds of people Barbara has impacted over the years.

So what about you? How high is your “talkability” factor? Are you providing connections, resources, and help to your network that is creating good “buzz” for you and your social capital?

When you look for ways to do things out of the ordinary and “above and beyond” for your network, people will notice. People love to talk about highlights that happen when they interact with you. As the saying goes, you can’t put a price tag on “word-of-mouth” advertising; it’s priceless.

Here are three ideas you can put into action to start increasing your buzz, your networth within your network.

Perfecting Connecting® Action Steps:

1. Be a good conversationalist. As John Mason Brown said, “A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but someone who says what people want to remember.”
2. Be original. As Bernadette Peters coined, “You’ve got to be original. If you’re like everybody else, what do they need you for?”
3. Be sincere. As Dale Carnegie explained, “You will have more success and meet more people if you develop a sincere interest in two people rather than trying to get two people interested in you.”

Sarah Michel, CSP