September 01, 2006
What's the difference?
What's the difference between being confident and being cocky?
It's a very fine line - trust me. I have very strong confidence in a few of my abilities. The biggest? I'm very good at building business relationships. Seriously. I've taken the nastiest, bitchiest buyers and turned them into bona fide friends. I have a formula.
First - I communicate. I call. I email. I fax. I visit. I get to know them. I ALWAYS answer their calls ASAP and their emails within an hour - seriously. Even if I don't have an answer I let them know I got the message. You wouldn't believe how far that goes.
Second - I focus on THEIR WANTS. Not just their needs, but what they WANT to accomplish.
Third - I. Do.Not Lie. Won't do it. Good or bad - tell 'em the way it is. In fact I usually under promise and over deliver.
On my resume under skills I have Relationship Development listed at the top. It's what I do best.
Today I was talking with a co-worker and we were tryin' to develop a plan of attack for one of our customers. We are missing business there - hand over fist. It's makin' me nuts. My directive? WHATEVER it takes - get that business.
During the discussion I made the comment that maybe I need to get out there in front of the buyer. Yes, we've done that before, but it wasn't ME.
Silence on the other end of the phone.
That's when I realized my comment was probably taken as cocky rather than confident.
I started to back peddle a bit, but stopped. No - I'm right. I KNOW I build a relationship with this buyer. I KNOW IT. I will not apologize for realizing and using my strenghts.
But damn - I just hate for anyone to think I'm conceited. I just know my abilities. Believe me - I know my weaknesses just as well.....
Posted by Tammi at September 1, 2006 11:25 AM | TrackBackIt's not conceit if it's an honest assesment, is it?
Hell, I dishonestly assess myself and I still don't find myself conceited.
Of course, I AM one of the nicest and hublest people I know... ;)
In all honesty, having met you, I'm going with you being confident. :)
Posted by: jimmyb at September 1, 2006 12:50 PMDid I kiss up enough to get on your "Bloggers I havve Met" list? :)
Posted by: jimmyb at September 1, 2006 12:52 PMHell, I'm going with cocky, and what is wrong with that? Nothing! You get the job done. It is what you do. It is why you are there. You have a license to be cocky!
Yet, it isn't cocky in the "I'd like to knock her down a peg or two" way. It is cocky as in, more than confident, less than conceited.
Hmmmphf. I baffle myself sometimes. OOOOOO, My window just had a flyby!!!! In formation and wonderful . . .
Sorry, about the lost train of thought, anyway. Be cocky! you have earned it!