At what point in your professional development did you transition from being a novice to being clean, polished, and well-poised?
As an undergrad, this is something I am curious about. Whenever I watch/listen to senior professionals speak, communicate, or present, I often think about what they may have been like as a junior. They exude confidence, appear sharp and well-poised, and are very eloquent. Were they always like this? What changed them?
Many times, they were not always like this, and a great deal of preparation must have gone into what they are talking about. But they seem so natural. Even in coffee-chats or casual conversations, they are very clean. I like to think of myself as being extroverted and confident, yet I could do my best to prepare for a presentation and still not come off half as authentic or poised as they do.
This observation becomes more apparent the higher up you go in the professional hierarchy. For example, a lot of MDs possess a certain swagger which facilitates interpersonal relations and communication. This is very helpful when you are trying to persuade a potential client to do business with you. Take your favorite CEO as another example. He/she is very professional and eloquent. You don't see Jamie Dimon or David Solomon staring down at their feet and speaking timidly when addressing an audience. I imagine that experience plays a large role in this--as you get older, you are charged with more responsibility (not just in work but in life). Personality is also an important factor--you don't see many introverts at the highest levels of a very competitive and person-facing industry.
I know that no singular event instantly changes you from being a stuttering, disorganized, intern. However, examining your own professional development, when did you realize that you are no longer a novice and are actually quite polished? I would like to know what factors you think played a role in helping you get to where you are. Did you read books on professional guidance? Did you practice presenting every day in front of a mirror? Did you have a mentor? Are you just a naturally likable and talented individual? Did experience and increasing responsibility simply shape you? Are you a VP and still stutter sometimes? Or even, did you undergo some terrific experience and woke up the next day closing deals like a boss?
Please share your anecdotes and thoughts. I am very interested in learning what it takes and how to enhance my professional development. Thank you in advance!
Don't be fooled by what people might look like when they're giving a speech, there's a big difference between how a person appears and what he really is
Yes, obviously there is this caveat. Generally speaking though, people tend to grow more and more poised. Ideally, I’d like to genuinely develop professionally. I understand that not everything is always as it appears. But, if you have to always put up a front, are you really growing as a person?
I was a shy and socially awkward person that thought a high gpa and relevant experience was enough to get a job but quickly realized that being likeable is equally important. It was an ugly time in life to go through those pains and force myself to grow but I can say that it has served me well. I used to visualize doing well in networking calls in the shower and would spend extra time post studying to actively recall all the concepts by looking in the mirror and staring into my eyes for 15-45 minutes. I would record myself and break it down like a NFL game until I began to hear myself gaining enough confidence that would convey preparation and sharpness.
Not a senior level person and I have not achieved much success but I came a long way from being that guy that wanted to hide in the corner to being able to be confident in my skin.
Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate that you’re honest about the role practice plays in developing.
Are you me? Totally relate to the rehearsing in the mirror bit.
What others have said here is huge. Honeslty, I don't know if anyone is always: Clean, Polished, And Well-Poised.
However, there are points in your life where things just click.
1. You learn to take your head out of the sand, look around, and see the context
2. You learn that learning is accomplished by reflecting not by doing
3. You miss out on an opportunity and you start focusing on trying to do everything you can to make sure you are everything you want to be
Honestly, as Tom Brady and Malcolm Gladwell show us sometimes its better to be the underdog...
Thank you for sharing this. As a junior, this is great insight in how experience helps shape development. I definitely agree that no one is always well put together.
Polished to the eyes of students, caveman to the eyes of my MD
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