...to achieve promotions to senior positions in IT. Based on personal chats with CEOs and head-hunters. The Top Seven Skills Countdown, over seven days...continuing with the Number Six - who was of course a fictional character portrayed by Canadian actress Tricia Helfer in the television "re-imagining" of Battlestar Galactica...
6 Speak in English, and Business English at that
A realy simple skill so often neglected. Three things:
* Never use technical jargon ever - certainly not outside of IT
* If you hear anyone else using a term that you believe someone else present may not understand, ask what they mean - even if you personally do know. You will be a hero as there will be others in the room who do not understand and will not say anything
* To come across as a total anorak, geek and with a career limiting death wish, ignore this advice
As ever though, your future, your choice
PS The most immediete, analytical and logical way to handle, wait for it - REJECTION...ask yourself this question when you hear the word "No" - Did you have this customer, date, whatever, before you asked - No. Do you have it now? No - So you are in exactly the same place as you were before - no better, no worse - get over it, and go again...
Tomorrow - Given that you know this, why on earth would you fear anything?