If I know something is true about me – and I think I am projecting that image to the world – then other people will see me that way, right? Nope! And I have been privileged to have very generous people tell me exactly how I come across. Even when what they have had to say was the hardest thing to hear, they were granting me an invaluable gift – clear insight into how I come across to them and what my opportunities for growth are. Mind you, it takes guts to listen and great courage to decide how to respond. I will not soon forget a recent meeting with Alex, CEO of a venture capital company and a potential client. When I entered his office space, there was no one at the front desk to welcome me. Within a few minutes, Alex came rushing by and said in passing, “I’ll be with you in a minute.” Before he finally greeted and ushered me into his conference room, he made sure to rush from office to office – aggressively asserting himself. The message from his words and actions was obvious: he was the alpha male.
