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Silent Career Killer: Approachability (Lack Thereof)

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Are you Approachable?

High FiveI’m not asking if you think you are approachable.  I’m asking if others think you are approachable.  Do your actions speak louder than your words?  Do your non-verbal’s scream something different than your voice? 

It’s clearly a topic of interest, if you Google approachable, you receive 10,300,000 results.  To be approachable may be one of the greatest lessons a rising career star can learn.  Keeping the office door shut or restricting or limiting talk time with co-workers, employees or management sends a strong message to those constituents: "I've got more important things to do than talk to you."   Lack of approachability leads to distrust, fear, and the ultimate deterioration of a trusting relationship.

Practicing being approachable can easily be woven into your daily schedule.  Here are some examples:

  • Acknowledge people you know and welcome those you don’t.  This means stopping what you are doing to greet or address others
  • Easily engage with others; friends, neighbors and even strangers.  You can be like the guy who wears a nametag 24/7 – HELLO, my name is Scott!
  • If others want to talk, let them.  If there is an awkward silence, jump in and break it
  • Be friendly, even when you don’t feel like it
  • Share your enthusiasm
  • Make others feel valued
  • Aim to inspire, not impress
  • Practice humility, not humiliation
  • Share confidence, not condescension
  • If you are busy and cannot handle an interruption, ask to meet at a different time.  Be available at that mutually agreed upon time
  • Don’t confuse gossip with conversation
  • Empowering is much more attractive than power hungry
  • Don’t say anything you wouldn’t be willing to say to anyone, anytime
  • Be open to receiving constructive feedback.  Think about how you delivering constructive feedback.  Would you want to receive feedback from you?
  • Smile, engage and be aware of your body language


Image Credit:  FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The author, Diahann Boock, is the founder of Women's Ally. For information about working with Diahann, check out our Programs.

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