Every time you interact with people in your network, either on the phone or in person, you will want to present yourself in a memorable way. This includes, among other things, speaking clearly and with confidence and being respectful of your contact’s time. In this section you will learn a simple technique for doing both of these things.

USE POWER STATEMENTS

One of the best ways to make a powerful impression on people you contact is by using “power statements.” A power statement is similar to a “Me in 30 Seconds” statement: it communicates important information about you in a short amount of time. Where a “Me in 30 Seconds” statement gives general information about you, a power statement emphasizes the value you can bring to an organization. Use the following steps to develop power statements:

1. Identify a value, skill, strength, or accomplishment you want to highlight that relates to your objective. (Refer to the list of skills you made on page 8 or the statements you wrote on page 9.)

2. Give a specific example of that skill.

3. Show the result of your skill (if possible, use percentages, dollar amounts, or numbers to reinforce your claim).

4. Make sure your statement matches the needs or goals of the organization.

For example:

• “I am dedicated to customer satisfaction. For example, as a territory manager I provided my customers timely product information and responded to their needs immediately. As a result, I was able to increase sales by 38%.”

• “I have excellent planning skills. For example, I used to ride the bus 36 miles to school every day. When the buses went on strike for eight weeks, I had to find other transportation, but I never missed a day of school. I feel confident I can put these planning skills to work for you.”

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