Taylor Swift recently released a Christmas
song with a music video comprised of a montage of
home videos. The singer-songwriter is a master at being able to connect with
her fans, leading to her business success. Her latest music video provides
three lessons business professionals should remember when they want to
strengthen professional relationships:
1. Be vulnerable.
Family home video records you in an
environment in which people generally feel comfortable being their true selves.
Home videos of your younger self can shine a light on who you were before you
developed a professional life.
Some people are uncomfortable watching home
video of themselves and even embarrassed that others might see them when they
were younger; they may not want to show any vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability is one of the few things people
have in common. Everyone is vulnerable. And many do not want other people to
know this. Those who reveal their vulnerability, like Taylor Swift, can better
connect with people. People who show vulnerability have the confidence to
connect with people on the most basic, human level.
2. Share what interests people.
Many people are fascinated by the lives of
celebrities, including Taylor Swift. People want to know what clothes they
wear, what they eat for breakfast and how they grew up. People want to see how
others live their lives. People want to know people’s life stories, and home
videos are a window into people’s stories.
Likewise with non-celebrities, people want to
know what makes a person them. People are interested in what
motivates individuals and how life experiences shape who they are today. People
are interested in knowing the real you, so don’t be afraid to show it.
3. Don’t wait for a perfect product.
As Taylor Swift’s recent tweet about her new
Christmas song suggests, she could have waited until next year to put it out.
But she didn’t. She didn’t wait. She didn’t wait to create a highly produced
music video. She put out a simple video with a collection of home videos.
People best relate when things are simple. The
simpler it is, the easier it is to understand and connect with their feelings
and experiences. Don’t always strive for complexity.
Sometimes, you just have to put it out there.
Don’t wait until that video or piece of writing is perfect. The product may
never be perfect. Don’t delay. Not everything has to be highly edited or
produced. Sometimes, the product is best when it isn’t perfect. Sometimes the
product is best when it is raw.
Be vulnerable, share what interests people and
don’t wait for things to be perfect. Taylor Swift shows that being personal can
help you professionally. Don’t run the risk of missing an opportunity to relate
to people. Your ability to connect with people is critical to your career
success.
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