How to Knock Someone's Socks Off!

Combine energy with a smile and you get a magic personality. I had the benefit of working with a woman last week who knocked my socks off. Not because she was smart. Maybe she was, maybe she’s not. I have no idea if we share common interests. Don’t really know much about her at all. In four days, I only spoke to her a handful of times. What I did get to do is watch her. Nonverbally, (let’s call her L) L twinkled. Yes, I said twinkled. She had so much positive energy that men and women were naturally drawn to her. Kind of like a bug to one of those bug lights. Okay, so not like that. This quality is difficult to describe. On the face, it looks like a person who is meeting an old friend, or is opening birthday presents, or watching a toddler on a pony ride. There is generosity, warmth, surprise and curiosity. And movement, lots of movement. The body moves, hands move, legs, posture, feet ever shifting; not frenetically, but with interest and excitement. Hand gestures, lots of touching, and comfortable within her body.

So maybe this is not your style. But to make yourself just a little more likeable, show your energy in your own way. If you have a good voice, keep your hands away from your face, look people in the eye and speak to show your energy. If all you can muster is a smile, make it big and constant. Lean forward, use gestures, stand up, hug, wink, walk. Think Barney the big purple dinosaur. There is a reason he smiles, dances and waves his arms around. Energy is a magnet at any age. It was nice to meet you L.

What Makes Outrageous People Acceptable?

What makes outrageous people acceptable? Energy. Individuals with high energy are not only welcome in most environments, but they are sought out. We all know that energetic individuals easily draw people into their circle. They are described as fun, crazy, something else, train wrecks, go-getters, barn stormers, and such.

A good reference phrase is ‘high energy’. We like to hire people with high energy believing they will expend some of that vigor at the workplace. Out of the office and on a social level, high energy people allow the rest of us to be lazy. These people hold up their end of the conversation and yours. They will pick the restaurant when six friends are standing on a street corner vacillating. They are generally problem solvers because they are pained by watching paint dry, which is what life feels like to them much of the time. It is a conundrum that we get frustrated and are prone to criticize these people who we crave to be around. Sometimes we get tired just watching them. On some days we don’t want someone else to choose our food or insist that we invest in Chinese poultry factories because they stayed up all night investigating the next big place to put your money. On the other hand, our high energy friends are the ones who save a dying dinner party, stay up all night holding our hand, rescue our kids and aging parents when we are otherwise indisposed, dress up when we tell them to and wear a costume just because.

Let’s celebrate all of our outrageous, outlandish, ridiculous, bizarre, peculiar, weird, eccentric, zany, passionate and fanatical friends. Energy is a powerful force. Be happy they share theirs with you. Some say that energy is the most attractive thing about a person. Share with us how you show your energy, your pet peeve, and verbal or nonverbal behavior of someone who screams ‘my battery is dying’. Come on, I need some examples for my upcoming speech.