Have you ever had a conversation with someone who sounded as though they were reading from a teleprompter? You ask a question, and they spit out a rehearsed answer that feels stiff, lifeless, and totally disconnected from the moment. You wonder if their brain is processing the ‘approved’ answer rather than the real one. It makes you want to say, Hello? Is there a real person in there? Not memorable at all.
The truth is, we’ve all done it. We’ve all played it safe, thinking we need to be “polished” and “professional” and say the “right” thing. But in doing so, we strip away the very thing that makes people want to connect with us—ourselves.
Whether you realize it or not, every interaction you have is an opportunity to sell yourself. Every conversation, every email, every handshake—it’s all reinforcing your personal brand. So, let’s talk about how to bring more YOU into your conversations, own your voice, and sell yourself with confidence.
I once had a coaching client who was up for a big promotion. He had prepped like crazy, had his answers memorized, and was ready to nail the interview. When he came to our coaching call to practice, I knew we had a problem. He had overthought the entire thing. He was so focused on saying the ‘right answer’ that he was not even really present for our role play (which I was pretty sure was foreshadowing for the interview itself). I encouraged him to ditch the script he had written and feel his way through the interview. Being prepared is incredibly important, but you need to listen to establish trust with the other person. When you give a canned answer, it shows that not only were you not listening, but you also can’t think on your feet. Two strikes in an interview setting.
People don’t connect with scripts.
They connect with stories, with personality, with you. So I encouraged him to think about stories he could share in the interview that would demonstrate his abilities. I coached him on how to bring his experience and expertise to life. People don’t remember facts—they remember feelings. SO we created a plan on how he wanted the interviewer to feel at the end of the interview.
Sidebar-he got the promotion!
Somewhere along the way, we got the idea that “being professional” means stripping away your own personality. But the truth? The most successful people are memorable. And they’re memorable because they show up with energy, confidence, and personality. If you haven’t read my blog and newsletter about telling a story that sells, check it out!
Think about the last person who made a lasting impression on you. Were they boring and predictable? Probably not. They were themselves.
A friend of mine is hilarious—like, could-do-standup-comedy kind of funny. But at work? She kept that side of her locked up because she thought humor wasn’t “professional.” The moment she started allowing herself to use humor in meetings, she noticed something amazing: people listened more. They remembered her ideas. They wanted to work with her.
If you are naturally analytical, then ask thought-provoking questions. If you’re warm and empathetic, lean into that and build real connections. Trying to be someone you are not is just exhausting. And frankly, people can tell. So stop trying to fit into a mold and start owning what makes you different.
Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: You sell yourself in every interaction.
It’s not just about job interviews or big presentations. It’s every email you send. Every meeting you’re in. Every casual conversation at a networking event.
Selling yourself isn’t about being pushy or self-promotional—it’s about making sure people walk away with the right impression of who you are and what you stand for.
Imagine two people introduce themselves at an event:
- Person A: “I’m in marketing.” (Meh.)
- Person B: “I help companies tell stories that make people actually care about their brand.” (Intriguing!)
Who do you think people will remember?
If there’s one thing to take away from this, it’s this: The way you communicate shapes the way people see you. And that, my friends, is the heart of personal branding. If you show up as yourself, people will trust you. If you speak with confidence, people will listen. If you ask for what you want, people will take you seriously.
So stop trying to sound “right” and start sounding real. The people who get the most out of life aren’t the ones with the perfect scripts. They’re the ones who own their voice and use it well.