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Sprechen zie Deutsch?

Sprechen zie Deutsch?

(The Dog Star is a symbol of power, will, and steadfastness of purpose, and exemplifies the One who has succeeded in bridging the lower and higher consciousness. – Astrological Definition)

My friend, Guido Quelle, was here recently from Germany for my Shameless Promotion Workshop. He began speaking to my German Shepherd, Koufax, in German. Koufax, notoriously aloof and gnomic in his relationships, immediately warmed to Guido, and permitted extensive petting and scratching.

Now, I know that Koufax can’t understand German, and that there are not ethnic or racial origins involved here, right?

Right?

Perhaps it was just Guido’s way with dogs (he has two of his own), or his tone of voice, or perhaps is was Koufax’s discernment of a kindred past. But he certainly took to Guido exceptionally well.

Some prospects take to us exceptionally well, and some clearly do not. In many cases, it’s the prospect’s problem: preoccupied, overwhelmed, poor attention span, arrogant—whatever. But in some cases it’s our fault, therefore controllable and worth trying to avoid doing (and certainly prevent constantly repeating).

What are others’ first impressions of you? You probably don’t know what they are. Are you dressed professionally and stylishly, or are you rumpled and out of date? Do you smile or do you look nervous and grim? Do you have a firm handshake or a limp lump of pasta that falls short of al dente? Are you carrying a smart briefcase or are you a pack horse with computers and ragged baggage? Do you know where to sit after you’re asked and how to open a conversation, or are you bouncing around like a metal orb in a pinball machine?

You only get a one chance to create a first impression. Since most of us are engaged in such rituals frequently, wouldn’t it be a clever idea to get good at it? And that includes your email, blog entries, tweets, and other non-personal impressions. I’ve always thought that people with 17 initials after their names on their business cards, none of which I can figure out, are trying to overcompensate, and that those who ask you to send them a package and don’t have a physical address in their signature file, are just not trying.

In any case, a great first impression can overcome even the prospect’s bad habits, costs nothing, and is easy to replicate once learned and practiced. Koufax is back to his old self, but I found an empty bottle of Löwenbräu in the yard the other day, and I’m beginning to suspect something isn’t quite right….

© Alan Weiss 2009. All rights reserved.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 15

  • carsten

    May 14, 2009

    just a little note, the title is more or less Dutch, in German it would be Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

  • Alan Weiss

    May 14, 2009

    Really? Can I have a second opinion? Thanks for your suggestion, I want to get it right.

  • carsten

    May 14, 2009

    I am quite certain the “do you speak German” is “Sprechen Sie Deutsch” in German — I am German. The way it is written in the headline sounds like the way it is said in Dutch, but I am not 100% if it is the way it is written in Dutch (but unless i am completely off, it looks quite Dutch).

  • Peter Bodifee

    May 14, 2009

    In Dutch it is “Spreekt U Duits?” … quite different and not like German!
    (raised by a Dutch and a German parent).

  • carsten

    May 14, 2009

    Peter,
    always fun to see how the Dutch don’t like to be compared to the Germans 🙂

    I lived in Amsterdam for 5 years … they would hate it when it was pointed out to them that Dutch was just like German.

  • Peter Bodifee

    May 14, 2009

    Genau richtig!
    I lived 4 years in Darmstadt, they thought I was from Köln (Cologne) because of my Dutch accent. That’s why I couldn’t resist to comment. 🙂

  • JohnM

    May 15, 2009

    Whatever the language, it was a point well made. Thanks Alan.

  • Alan Weiss

    May 15, 2009

    Yeah, a lot of focus on the translation and not much on the information!

  • Guido Quelle

    May 16, 2009

    Koufax is a very good listener …

  • Danielle Keister

    May 19, 2009

    Now there’s an reTweetable quote if I ever saw one:

    “I’ve always thought that people w/17 initials after their names, none of which I can figure out, are trying to overcompensate.”

    You should post that on your Twitter account, Alan.

  • Danielle Keister

    May 19, 2009

    Cool… just retweeted ya!

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