Latest news with #UnforgettablePresence
CNBC
10-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Stop ‘just following up'—to get responses ASAP, use these 'powerful messages,' says communication expert
You've had a great call. Everyone's on board. Then you send the follow-up email, and you're met with silence. You follow up again and more silence. We've all experienced some version of this, whether it's after a job interview, a networking request, or a sales conversation. As a keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, and bestselling author of "Unforgettable Presence," I work with highly accomplished professionals — from executives to rising leaders — to help them communicate with confidence. So I know that while a gentle "just following up," "circling back" or "just checking in" might feel polite, it's often not enough to cut through the noise of a busy inbox. Here's what to do if you don't want your follow-ups to be ignored: When you end a call with, "We can figure out next steps over email," it's easy for people to deprioritize your follow-up request. One of the easiest ways to reduce ghosting is to schedule your next interaction before the current one ends. The meeting or deliverable can always be adjusted later on. It takes more effort to cancel a meeting entirely — and more gall to blow past a deadline — than to ignore an email. Try: Language like "just following up" and "just checking in" may sound friendly, but it's indirect and can easily get dismissed as non-urgent. Even worse, when you use minimizing words like "just," you're subtly telling the other person that your message isn't that important. Ultimately, these soft, non-committal openers make your message feel optional instead of actionable. Drop the minimizing words and swap vague follow-ups for clear, specific messages. Try: Sometimes people aren't ignoring you, they simply don't have an answer yet — although in an ideal world, they'd let you know that! Ask a clear, direct question to give the other person a reason to respond, even if it's to say, "Not right now." Try: When appropriate, reference a time constraint. Sometimes urgency helps people prioritize their response. Try: Still not getting a reply? Try showing up in their world. Engaging with someone's recent post on LinkedIn can be a subtle but effective way to remind them you're around — without pinging their inbox again. Don't spam their DMs or comment with "sent you an email!" Instead, offer value and visibility by leaving a thoughtful comment, for example. It keeps you top of mind and builds rapport. It's easy to assume silence means "no." But often, it just means your message got lost in a sea of other priorities. A friendly, professional nudge is acceptable and often appreciated. Follow up after a reasonable time. Use a subject line that gets attention and be clear about what you're hoping for. And don't apologize. None of this "Sorry to bother you..." stuff. You're not bothering them — you're being proactive. Resending the same message with a passive aggressive "bumping this up" isn't likely to entice the recipient to reply. If you've already followed up once, shift your approach instead of repeating yourself. Add new information or progress since your last message. It keeps the conversation active and gives the recipient a clear reason to re-engage. Try: Following up doesn't have to feel awkward, and you don't have to settle for silence. With a few thoughtful changes, you can turn passive check-ins into powerful messages that help you get things done and get on with your day.
CNBC
19-06-2025
- General
- CNBC
Stop saying ‘hope you're well' in emails—to get attention and gain influence, do this instead
You're about to send an email. Maybe it's to a client, a hiring manager, or a colleague you haven't spoken to in a while. Reflexively, you start typing, 'Hope you're well.' While you may genuinely mean it, it doesn't give the recipient a reason to keep reading — and in some cases, it might even prompt them to skip your message entirely. As a keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and bestselling author of 'Unforgettable Presence,' I help professionals improve how they communicate in high-stakes moments. If your opener doesn't stand out, the rest of your message might never get read. Your opening isn't filler, it's the first impression, so you should give it as much thought as the rest of your email. The problem isn't that this phrase is rude — it's just forgettable. 'Hope you're well' has become the email equivalent of boring, autopilot small talk. It's so common that most people are probably skimming over that line. In some cases, it can even feel impersonal or lazy, especially if you're emailing someone you haven't spoken to in a while. In addition to "hope you're well," you should also avoid: A strong opener feels human, specific, and intentional. Because whether you're following up, making an introduction, or kicking off a project, how you start will influence what comes next. Here are a few simple but powerful ways to move beyond 'hope you're well' and craft a message that actually gets attention and builds relationships: If you've connected before — even briefly — use that. Reminding someone where you left off gives your message instant context. Try this: When you can prime people to think positively using positive words and phrases, it's a win-win for everyone. This kind of opener is especially effective when you want to feel warm and action-oriented. Try this: You don't have to ignore the fact that you're reaching out during a busy stretch or after some time has passed. But skip the default pleasantries and be more intentional. Try this: This works especially well in networking or outreach emails. Try this:
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How to become unforgettable at work and grow your career
If you've ever been passed over for a promotion, you may have questioned the quality of your work. The other candidate probably had better experience, right? But what if the answer is that you simply weren't top of mind. Instead of focusing exclusively on building a résumé, how much time do you focus on how you're perceived? 'A lot of people think that heads-down good work will speak for itself,' says Lorraine K. Lee, author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career. 'Then there are people who are thoughtful about how they're seen, but they're not being seen by the right people in the right places.' Both can be career killers. Lee says she struggled with this earlier in her career. 'I worked on really high-profile projects,' she says. 'I was well liked by my peers. As hard as I pushed, I could not figure out how to get promoted and how to get seen as a leader.' What was missing was presence, Lee says. 'A lot of things compete for our attention. In order to stand out, we have to be unforgettable. We have to be really intentional with our presence.'
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Create An EPIC Career Brand That Gets You Noticed
EPIC Career Moves Are you your company's best-kept secret? If so, that's a problem. How do you think promotions are awarded? Usually, the top-of-mind person is the first person in line to be awarded an opportunity. Is this fair? Maybe. Is this the truth? Definitely yes. My most memorable coaching assignment was with a client who needed to quickly land a new role in their company. Failure to do so would result in leaving the company, due to a division closure, and a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in future retirement earnings. My client was very good at their job. However, few people in senior management knew this. I guided my client on a 90-day whirlwind publicity campaign that led to not one but two offers at a higher level than they currently were at. It was a scary time for my client that could have been avoided had they built an unforgettable career brand. In her new book, Unforgettable Presence, Lorraine Lee provides a pragmatic approach to creating an EPIC career brand. Here are Lee's four essential ingredients needed to develop your brand recipe. Frequently, we judge ourselves more harshly than others do, so it's valuable to seek feedback from trusted individuals about how they perceive you. This helps you determine whether their perception aligns with your self-image and the professional reputation you aim to build. Here are some tips for building out your career brand: Be shameless. This is not the time to hold back. You know your work is good. Now it's time to let everyone else know. Be authentic. The way to move up in your organization might require being ruthless. If that's not who you are or who you aspire to be, then all the coaching in the world isn't going to get you there. Instead, consider finding a work environment that better aligns with the career brand you're going for. Throw doubt to the wind. You'll hear lots of talk about Imposter Syndrome and how everyone has it. Don't buy into this. Everyone struggles at some point in their career. It's completely natural to do so. Push through the discomfort and let your true self shine. Be visible. The people who get noticed are those who show up regularly. It can be uncomfortable to stand in a conference room with people you don't know, chowing down on a co-worker's birthday cake. Do it anyway. You may wind up standing next to an executive, who with a bit of luck and some small talk could be instrumental in you landing your next opportunity. Be patient. We often forget how long it's taken some highly visible brands to take hold. Your career brand won't be built overnight, so it's essential to start building today. Be consistent. Consistency is key to accelerating your career brand. Posting on LinkedIn once a month won't get you noticed. Instead, share content two or three times a week. You'll quickly see increased visibility and engagement, boosting your professional profile and career prospects. Building a powerful career brand is an ongoing journey, not a destination. By consistently showcasing your experiences, personality, identity, and community, you shape how others perceive you and unlock new possibilities. Start today, stay authentic, and watch your career flourish. The world is waiting to see what you have to offer.
