The Secret to Adding Power to Your Interview Stories

Key Concepts:

• Verbal communication in interviews
• Confident and direct language
• Personal vantage point in storytelling
• Articulating actions and results
• Taking ownership and demonstrating impact

1. Packaging of Verbal Communication:

The speaker emphasizes that verbal communication needs to be "in the packaging itself," meaning it should be readily available and clear in the way you present yourself. This implies that your communication style is a key part of your overall presentation during an interview.

2. Confident and Direct Language:

• Problem: Many individuals, even those receiving coaching, tend to downplay their roles by using phrases like "I was involved," "I was on a team," or "I was helping."
• Solution: The speaker advocates for using confident and direct language, positioning yourself as the central figure in the story. This doesn't equate to bragging but rather telling the story from your perspective.
• Example: Instead of saying "We put together this communication plan," say "My job was to oversee it and ensure it had these seven pieces so that when we rolled it out we were targeting an increase in communication of 30% and a decrease in misunderstandings of 50%." This demonstrates clear ownership and quantifiable results.

3. Storytelling from Your Vantage Point:

• Every word spoken in an interview should be told from your perspective. You are the center of the universe in your story.
• The focus should be on your understanding of what happened, what you did, and the results achieved.
• Even if you had help, the way you speak should highlight your role in the process.

4. Articulating Actions and Results:

• Ineffective Example: "Well as a as a uh marketing manager uh you know we we put we uh we put the remote control car in a box and then we held the remote control and then we mailed the box to the..." This lacks clarity, confidence, and a clear connection to results.
• Effective Approach: Focus on the sequence of actions, what those actions were leading to, and the results achieved. Even if an assistant performed a task, you are telling the story of how that task contributed to the overall outcome.
• Example: "I fielded the calls, and here's how I turned them into business." This demonstrates direct action and a clear impact on the company's bottom line.

5. Taking Ownership and Demonstrating Impact:

• You should be the centerpiece of the story, either by directly performing the action, instructing the action, or improving the action that someone else performed.
• The key is to demonstrate your contribution and the impact you had on the situation.

6. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The speaker emphasizes the importance of confident and direct communication in interviews. By framing your experiences from your vantage point, clearly articulating your actions and results, and taking ownership of your contributions, you can effectively showcase your value to potential employers. The goal is to present yourself as a key player who drives positive outcomes.