It has to be said that I quite enjoyed writing and publishing the last article, Are You Boring People at Work? I hope you weren’t offended by the last sentence!
The main point is that it is very much to your advantage if other people find you interesting. There are many ways to achieve this, and here I want to share some positive ways to become more interesting and engaging. Make sure and read to the end, because there are also a few warnings that I need to share with you before
you go too far.
- Express your opinions vigorously. This means that you have to have opinions in the first place. You also have to believe in them strongly so that you build the courage to express them with confidence and vigour.
- Have opinions that are radical. Expressing opinions that are held by everyone is boring. Be bold and stand out from the crowd — but make sure you’ve done your homework first.
- Tune into what those around you find interesting, or even fascinating. This means that you have to really listen. This is not something you would normally associate with an interesting person but, every interesting person I know is exceptionally alert though most people don’t notice it. Paradoxically, this means you have to get really interested in those you want to find you interesting!
- Get really curious about the things others find interesting. Take this beyond idle curiosity, get really passionate about learning about these topics. Of course, this will start with becoming more interested in what they have to say about these topics. By the way, people are far more likely to find you interesting if you are interested in them.
The Gautrey Influence Blog
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- Don’t settle for mundane facts, go for the obscure. Find the fascinating little gems which others don’t know about. You’ll soon have them approaching you for the latest insights. One of the great benefits of being interesting is that you don’t have to work so hard to get people to come to you.
- Be more enthusiastic about these things. This will add much more to your communication. Not only will you have interesting things to share, you will also start to look and sound interesting too. There is a world of difference between starting a share with, “Did you know …” and, “Hey, you’ll never guess what …” Saying the latter in a hushed, almost conspiratorial voice, takes you to another level again. Try it.
- Become less predictable. Predictable by its very nature is boring (or safe). So, judiciously mix things up a little. Break your routines, change patterns and say/do the unexpected. In other words, surprise people. I’ve got a very well-developed sense of tact and diplomacy yet, over the years, I’ve earned a bit of a reputation for surprising people with how direct (or blunt) I can be.
As for the warnings, well there are two key ones.
Firstly, don’t become so unpredictable that people consider you to be volatile, mad, or a “loose cannon.” While being interesting you still need to be trustworthy. Aim to become dependable on what is important and have some fun with the rest. While I can be a little unpredictable in what I will say next, people can depend on my absolute interest in their success and also, that I would only say things like that if I totally believed it would help them.
Secondly, take care to make this genuine. Faking the ideas here isn’t going to work for very long. Your colleagues are not stupid. So, make sure to cultivate genuine interest in others and genuine curiosity in the things they find interesting.
By the way, all of the above will make you more interesting outside of work too.
Now, for heaven’s sake, go liven it up a bit!
The Gautrey Influence Blog
Ever felt overlooked, unheard, or stuck in office politics? You’re not alone. The Gautrey Influence Blog breaks down the real-world strategies behind leadership, influence, and power—giving you the tools to be heard, respected, and successful. Join 35,000+ professionals getting ahead the smart way—subscribe now..
💡 Benchmark your Influence: Take the Master of Influence Assessment (Free for Subscribers!)
👉 [Subscribe & Take the Assessment]