The currency that IS networking

When I moved to Atlanta 12 years ago, I knew no one, it was a real challenge to persuade and influence potential employers to hire me. I had some success and many failures. It was when I learned to unleash the power of my presence, that the successes outweighed the failures.

So, how do you do it?

Firstly you need to exude a level of positive energy, you really do need to “let success vibrate within you!”
People are attracted to people who look like they have their lives together.
Also you have to overcome FEAR!
Remember, “courage is not the absence of fear, it is taking actiond despite the fear!”

You also have to be not only INTERESTED in others, something we have all heard a million times!…..but INTERESTING! What have you read lately, what interesting book can you tell us about. Cultivate your ability to be a fabulous story teller! Succint, and with a point.

Relax: Remeber the less you need something, the more power you have!!

Engage: Verbally and Non Verbally with a level of excitement, energy and enthusiasm.

I spoke with Julene Williams of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta:

Coming UP……Unleash The Power Of Your Presence…..when you face the media or give a presentation!

Are people really listening to what you have to say?

stay tuned! the elevator pitch is next!

No. 1 Women’s Detective Agency

 

My new favorite show. Set in Botswana, you can watch it on HBO. Jill Scott plays an African woman who ambitiously sets out to create a detective agency. Such an endearing and inspiring show. I can only hope a site such as hulu.com will pick up the episodes for the international audience and those who don’t get HBO. Watch and see what I mean. And after have your say! Vote in our poll.

A little Monday motivation

Nadia sat down with John Glenn of the Atlanta Press Club for some networking tips

John Glenn is an experienced journalist. Networking isn’t easy for everyone and as John points out, it’s better to get to know a few people well than to try and speak to everyone in the room.

 

Chris Iansiti at the Atlanta Press Club mixer March 2009

Nadia sat down with Chris Iansiti of IANSITI Performance Group to get some tips on how he approaches others at networking events and introduces himself.

Nadia Bilchik at the Atlanta Press Club Mixer March 2009

Nadia coaches professionals, organizations and any individual on how to make the most out of creating presence and simply sparking a fire of networking success when one walks into a room.

NADIA BILCHIK – WHY I LOVE MY JOB

NADIA BILCHIK – WHY I LOVE MY JOB

My professional journey as an international television anchor, keynote speaker and workshop presenter, has given me unlimited opportunities to educate and connect with people. I arrived in Atlanta 11 years ago, and did not know a single person. I now have a thriving business built through developing meaningful relationships, something I love to talk about.

I have presented in front of the camera for several television networks and worked as an editorial producer at CNN. My energetic and entertaining (and often self deprecating) Keynotes and Workshops delivered to companies and organizations, such as Coca Cola, AOL Time Warner, CNN Bellsouth, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Prudential Georgia Realty, CREW and others always result in positive feedback which is enormously gratifying.

I am passionate about assisting individuals in achieving success in their professional and personal lives. Through my Keynotes and Workshops, I offer guidance and tools which both educates and motivates individuals to reach their highest potential for best results. An example of this success is a producer at CNN, Nadine Drummond who said, she had given my DVD to her sister, who was out of work, and it motivated her to go to a job interview, where she applied some of my techniques, and got the job. I keep these letters as personal inspiration. I also recently worked with Helene Gayle and her executive at CARE on handling the Media and received a note immediately after her interview with WXIA (Channel 11) saying how brilliantly she had implemented the skills she had learned in my session.

My seasoned career background has given me experience and expertise on the importance of Elevating Your Personal Presence: The Verbal and Non Verbal techniques that will make people like you, trust you and want to do business with you. This is a critical component in anyone’s career success. At a time in our economy when everyone is looking for a competitive edge, I have seen an increase in demand for education on surviving in the increasingly challenging business arena. I spoke to Prudential last week, on the importance of Acting UP when the Economy is DOWN. This is a critical time to take charge of the things that are under your control, and without wanting to sound clichéd, attitude is one of them. At a time like this, we need to remember that negativity can unconsciously repel and prevent people wanting to do business with us.

In later years, when I look back on my life, I will be able to say, “I was in their corner, contributed to their success and made a difference to their lives.” What could be better than that?

Lighting the F.I.R.E for Successful Communication

F- Feeling good about yourself

Honore De Balzac said: “There is no greater impediment to getting on well with other people, than being ill at ease with yourself.” We live in a world of enormous stress and challenge and all too often, we forget the power of exuding positive energy as a way of attracting business. And sometimes it is easier to act your way to feeling better than to feel your way to acting better.

I- Show genuine interest

Never before has “being present” been more of a challenge. While you are reading this, how many of you are simultaneously glancing at your BlackBerry? I know I am. So the question I ask is: How conscience are you of paying attention when someone is in your company? Remember in communication, people will remember the way we make them feel much more than by what we say.

R- Relax in all your interactions

Remember as John Kehou said: “You are a culmination of your success and not only as good as your last experience.” Appearing relaxed induces confidence in your audience, whether your audience is an audience of one, 100, or 1000.

E- Engage with energy, excitement and enthusiasm

All too often we allow our day-to-day stresses and challenges to erode our energy and yet, so much of what people buy into when we are selling them a product, a service, or an idea, is that very level of intangible enthusiasm. Remember, sales are a transfer of emotion and in one way or another we are all in sales.

The 2 Elements to Effective Communication

I am writing this from Athens, Greece. I have been here for the week, training some of the worlds top fertility specialists to handle the media and give more powerful presentations. There are doctors from France, The Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Denmark, The UK, and the US.

What I am reminded of this week is that while people may come from different parts of the world, there are universal communication skills that still apply.

The first being, that “people remember the way you feel, not exactly what you say.” Therefore we all need to be better listeners. I always say in my workshops that one of the most overlooked tools in communication is to give your audience (be it an audience of one or one hundred) their moment.

We do this in presentations by asking our audience questions, and then really listening to their answers. We do this by making sure our message is orientated towards what your audience needs and wants to know, and not just a platform to communicate your agenda. “I” and “Me” messages zone your audience out. Everyone, wherever they are based geographically are tuned in to the universal radio station WIFM. As you know, it’s “What’s In It For Me” and the question is are you broadcasting on their wavelength.

One of the other key elements for handling the media effectively and for giving more interactive presentations is to “assume positive intent.” What I mean by this is, never allow an interviewer or a questioning audience member to faze you.

Sometimes you are asked challenging questions, simply smile, answer to the best of your ability, and if necessary bridge, segue or flag information you think is more pertinent to the discussion.

As always, there are 2 elements to ALL communication, there is content, the WHAT of delivery and the HOW you deliver it. Both are essential to master, if you are to have greater impact every time you communicate!

And it pertains from Venice to Venezuela and from Caracas to Cairo.