The Situation:
John had never been good at interaction with folks around him. The feedback had been that he was viewed as aloof, difficult to communicate with and slow with responses. John felt this was unfair. He liked people but had a challenging time getting comfortable in the initial stages of conversation.
The Solution:
The first step is getting John to smile and begin the interaction first by just saying hello to folks in all situations, whether in the hallway, in the cafeteria or in a meeting. It was not easy but the more he made it a habit, the more natural it became.
The Outcome:
John was asked to interview for a leadership role in a new project. Before this change, he would have never been considered, not because he did not have the technical skills, but because folks thought of him as unapproachable.
A smile is the universal welcome ~Max Eastman