How to Get Noticed

What’s the best way to get noticed in a cluttered world?

Maybe you want a meeting with a hard-to-see client.  Or you’re aiming to lead a major project.  Or you are trying to land the new job your company just posted.

Conventional wisdom says information is power.  But recently I’ve noticed a steep decline in the persuasiveness information provides.  Reports and slide decks continue to accumulate on my desk everyday. But the higher the pile, the less meaningful the information becomes.

Facts aren’t enough anymore

Google. Bing. Wikipedia. Twitter. Need I say more? A sixth grader in Iowa has the same ability to access information as you do.  It doesn’t cost the sixth grade more money either.

Easy access and low cost information changes the game.  Being well-informed won’t get you noticed like it once did.  One way or another you must find a way to stand out.

Try a new approach

Below are five ways breathe life into information:

1. Share your point of view - people want to be led. Describe what the facts mean. Put them in context. Identify what’s at stake. And be honest.
2. Tell personal stories – People don’t want theory. They want to experience things on their own. Or they want to learn from others who have walked a similar path (like you).
3. Ask questions – You don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes the best way to help others is by identifying the unknown. But be careful not to ask obvious questions. Do your homework in advance.
4. Provide options – Identifying alternatives helps clarify what is and is not possible. Help others separate the forrest from the trees. Then allow people closest to the situation to decide what is best.
5. Draw simple pictures – People remember what they see longer than what they hear. Pictures carry a ton of meaning. Stop being self-conscious and draw your ideas. You’ll be surprised how the drawing process creates mutual understanding.
6. Show initiative – There is still no substitute for working your tail off. Your sweat equity persuades and motivates others to take you seriously. Don’t take this one to the extreme though. Life, as they say, is short.

Facts alone no longer do the trick. The approaches above show promise the more and more I’m use them. So give them a try.  Be the person that provides signal in a world of noise.  And as a result, you’ll get noticed more.

Question - What other approaches are you using to get noticed in a cluttered world?

You’re invited to comment below. I plan to repost an updated list based on your suggestions. Or if you’ve seen similar posts that may be helpful, please let me know that too.

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