The World is a Mirror, Part 14
Thursday, November 09, 2006 - posted by hellomynameisscott at 8:30 AM
A is for ATTITUDEB is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E QTis for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES
H is for HAPPINESS
I is for IDEAS
J is for JOY
K is for KNOWLEDGE
L is for LAUGHTER
M is for MUNDANE
N is for NAMETAGS
I need to apologize.
See, sometimes I get so wrapped up in the big picture of approachability, be that guy, make a name for yourself, that I lose sight of why I started this in the first place: because nametags rock.
Plain and simple. Heck, that was the whole point of my first book!
But last month, something happened that really got to me.
After giving a talk at a hospitality conference in Columbus, I noticed a woman I’d met a few months prior. Unfortunately, I couldn’t recall her name. So, when I first approached to say hello, I was hoping to read her nametag to jar my memory.
But her hair was covering it.
“Forgive me for blanking on your name,” I said, “but, well, your nametag is sort of covered!”
“Oh, sorry about that,” Sarah said as she moved aside her brown locks.
“You should make your nametag more visible,” I joked.
“Well, I could,” she whined, “but my hair looks just hideous when I put it up!”
Oh. I see.
And then it hit me: nametags are not about you.
Nametags are about everyone in the world BUT you.
Nametags are about making someone else feel comfortable; maybe because they’re shy, or maybe because they’re bad with names.
And yet, so many people still complain about wearing them:
“I feel silly wearing this thing.”
“My nametag doesn’t match my outfit.”
“Everybody at this meeting knows me already.”
That may be true, but the problem with these (common) objections to wearing a nametag is this: they’re all about you.
If you’re attending a meeting or event – especially if you’re an existing member – one of your duties is to make guests and newbies feel comfortable. So whether you're extroverted or shy; friendly or caustic; aloof or gregarious, at least some part of that goal can be easily accomplished by one simple act: wear your nametag!
Because sometimes you have to put the comfort of your guests in front of the comfort of yourself.
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your best objection to wearing nametags?
* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com
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I recently went to church staff planning weekend and the question of getting rid of nametags came up. Fortunately, we all agreed that nametags are a must because they increase the inclination to interact.
My excuse, sometimes I forget it in the car.
Not sure about increasing the inclination to react?
Several times a year, I attend a wholesale jewelry & accessories show. You have to show your nametag to be admitted, but I then put it in my bag.
Why? Many of the hundreds of vendors are like telemarketers..."Hi, Sandy, I see you're from Toledo. How's the weather there?. . . blah, blah, blah."
It's obvious why they want to engage me in conversation but I don't want to be approachable under those circumstances. I just want to shop and be left alone.
And it's not approachability that gets them to cut a deal - it's all about the quantity of the purchase.