I’m so proud of my alma mater, Iowa State, for the way they’ve turned their football program around. They’ve defeated two Top 5 teams already, made themselves bowl eligible before Halloween, and are rising fast in the national rankings. According to head coach Matt Campbell, the secret to the Cyclones’ amazing turnaround and stunning success is “doing the unremarkable with remarkable detail.”
Coach Campbell is talking about performing the basics and executing them flawlessly. For example, his team has the fewest penalties in the conference and has not lost a fumble in eight hard-hitting games.
Sometimes in life, when you get the seemingly insignificant things perfect, it can set you up for the big wins. This has been the approach of our Speak Up and Stand Out public speaking workshops and personal coaching program. It’s a highly competitive world out there and so when it comes to winning a new client, getting a project approved, or closing the deal, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
Common Business Interactions to Get Perfect
Here are some common business interactions that you should execute with remarkable detail:
- Slow down and take the time to perform a handshake correctly.
- Don’t start speaking before you are in speaking position. Likewise, don’t start to sit back down until you have completed your presentation. Even the smallest hint you are ready to sit back down will dimish your conclusion.
- Present a business card rather than simply give one. Tell your story. Likewise, receive a business card rather than take one. Take the time to look at it. Put it away respectfully.
- Introduce yourself with meaningful content and do so succinctly. Stay on point. Stay interesting.
- Tell passionate stories and use examples that follow a logical sequence and conclude with a clear point.
- Choose a seat that allows you to influence and include rather than command and control.
- Listen better. Listen to understand and to know.
Done correctly, these simple business interactions can have a powerful impact on how people perceive you. They can make the difference in getting to the next level or going home. By executing these unremarkable things with remarkable detail, you too can turn your season around and be a winner.
