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The following article was written by Debra Keirce, a regular contributing author to The BoldBrush Letter.
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Impress Us in a Good Way
Unfortunately, I’m an expert at what I want to share with you this month…ways to leave a negative impression even if you don’t mean to.
Sometimes life hands us the perfect storm of unfiltered honesty, bad timing, and social missteps. Those of us who live in an unpolished, less tactful realm (if you know, you know) will relate to these words.
True story - I once managed to offend an entire nation, within an hour of my first visit to Montana. I was at dinner with museum staff, celebrating an exhibition I had organized at their venue. This was a group show with five artists, and when some members couldn’t be there, we had what we called “flatheads.” These were enlarged headshots mounted on sticks (like the Flat Stanley if you remember those) and we’d pull them out for photo selfies. That way our whole group still got to be in the photo.
Well, at the restaurant, I was excited as our hosts were showing us the local history, like the Civil War- era bullet hole in the bar. I said in a loud, exclamatory voice, “Bring out the flatheads! Let’s take a selfie!” All 50 diners in the restaurant fell silent. All eyes were on me. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said “Deb, there’s a reservation not far from here, and they call themselves the Flatheads.”
Oops.
I share this just to demonstrate one of the crazy first impression situations I have found myself in. I’m not sure there is a lesson to be learned here, except that the best thing is to avoid them. It’s not always possible, but we can try.
This is why I’ve put a great deal of thought into how to act more professional and less like a social misfit. Here is a list of things I’ve learned. Comment and add your own. I won’t admit to you which of the following crimes I’ve personally committed, vs. the ones I’ve witnessed. I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface!
Respond Promptly. People feel unimportant or dismissed if you don’t.
Stay Professional. Talking about competitors makes others wonder what you will say about them later.
Avoid Politics. Share political opinions, and you insult half your potential audience.
Don’t Gossip. It undermines your credibility.
Value Customers. The customer is not always right, but treating them with respect and compromise can turn them into loyal advocates. Word of mouth advertising is precious.
Show Gratitude. A simple thank-you or social media shout-out goes a long way in building relationships.
Be Authentic. Don’t be that artist with a brush set that’s all flats when you use all rounds now. People get upset when they buy into a product or process you appear to endorse, only to find you aren’t using it anymore.
Document Everything. If you just can’t make a collector happy, take notes and make sure you have tried your best to set things right. Then you have honest and readily accessible answers if people ever approach you with questions.
Be Transparent. Open communication builds trust.
Avoid Sketchy Practices. If you use ketchup in your creation, don’t call it archival.
Be More Ethical Than You Technically Need to Be. For example, don’t sell a painting and then paint it again and try to pass it off as the original. This ruins trust.
Don’t Imply Things Unless You Truly Plan to Do Them. Just one example - People will blame you when they go out of their way to be at a show reception and you don’t.
Own Your Mistakes. If you find yourself in an awkward situation, apologize profusely until the offended beg you to stop. I’m still apologizing for the flathead comment.
Don’t Take Things Personally. Remember that how people react speaks volumes about them, and the day they are having. It’s not about you.
Accept Boundaries. Collectors run out of space eventually. Most collector relationships result in them buying less from you as time goes on. Don’t nag or stalk them trying to get them to buy more.
Simplify Payments. Money is a sensitive subject. Keep transactions smooth and clear to avoid lingering resentment.
Know Your Limits. If someone asks you to make them look slimmer and younger in their portrait, and you don’t think you can honestly do it, politely decline the commission.
Make Them Feel Good. Whether it’s a curator, collector, peer or student, people remember how you make them feel, above all else.
If there’s just one secret sauce thing I’ve learned about impressing folks positively, this would be it:
Communication is key. There will always be awkward situations. Not everyone likes me. That’s okay.
If we have not engaged yet, I turn away from those folks. If we have already started working together, I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for financial transactions. I’d rather leave unsuccessful contracts, than have another person in the world singing about all my flaws. Having said that, in 50 years I’ve only had one unsatisfied client. That’s not because I don’t deserve more. It’s because I work hard to keep the lines of communication open. I talk about everything - good AND bad. People have come to expect it from me.
In the end, professionalism isn’t about being flawless. It’s about being human, accountable, and willing to learn. Impressing people in a good way starts there.
Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com
Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
https://debkart.com/email-newsletter
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