“Tell Me About Yourself ….”
Those are dreaded words – both to hear and to say. What exactly is meant by that question?
I am an adjunct faculty member for Mountain State University’s School of Leadership and Professional Development, facilitating their Organizational Leadership Undergrad courses. I recently received a new class; these people have been together for nine months and I am the ‘new kid on the block’.
I spoke with each one of them and my first question was “Tell me about yourself”. The responses varied from strictly business to a family history. The way they answered this simple question told me bundles about the person. How you ask? I was able to discern if they gravitated more towards the personable side, willing to open up and share part of their lives that would not otherwise be exposed. Those that stuck with their position and number of years with the company unconsciously shared with me that ours was more of a professional relationship.
We tell one another what we value and how to communicate with us. Unfortunately, we are not aware of these signals. As a result ….
It isn’t what we say, it’s what they think they heard.
Tags: communication, Mountain State University, organizational leadership, School of Leadership