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Our brains are hardwired to make much of modern life difficult. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with uncertainty. On the bright side, if you know the right tricks, you can override your brain’s irrational tendencies and handle uncertainty with poise. Our brains give us fits when facing uncertainty because they’re wired to react to it with fear. In a recent study, a Caltech neuroeconomist imaged subjects’ brains as they were forced to make increasingly uncertain bets—the same kind of bets we’re forced to make on a regular basis in business. The less information the subjects had to go on, the more irrational and erratic their decisions became. You might think the opposite would be true—the less information we have, the more careful and rational we are in evaluating the validity of that information. Not so. As the uncertainty of the scenarios increased, the subjects’ brains shifted control over to the limbic system, the place where emotions, such as anxiety and fear, are generated.
Unconscious behaviors betray our thoughts and emotions and deeply influence our connection to others, impacting whether or not they see us as trustworthy. Imagine your boss says, “Can you step into my office? I need to talk with you.” Immediately, your senses go into overdrive, trying to mine her tone of voice and unconscious behaviors for clues to her intention. Is she angry? Excited? Worried? What if she’s sending mixed messages? Her voice is warm, but you notice a slight frown and crossed arms. What can you count on? In a world hyper-focused on transparency and authenticity, trust is the currency that drives relationships, partnerships, and successful collaborations. Yet, building trust goes beyond our words. Nonverbal cues—those unconscious behaviors that betray our thoughts and emotions—deeply influence our connection to others. When we don’t trust someone but can’t quite put a finger on why, it’s because our brains have made an instant calculation based on hundreds of tiny inputs. Without realizing it, we’re constantly evaluating other’s vocal qualities, body language, spatial relationship to us, eye contact, posture, breathing rate, and even body temperature. All this data from unconscious behaviors primes us to answer one simple question: Can I trust you? To get the nod and earn a someone’s confidence, you’ll need to know the top three unconscious behaviors that kill trust and how to fix them. Aim for congruency Nothing kills trust faster than incongruity. There are always two conversations going on when we convey information personally. The first happens at the level of the words we use. The second sneaks out through unconscious behaviors in our voice and body language. When the two are misaligned, the listener will prioritize the physical cues every time. This incongruity triggers the brain’s cheater detection mechanism, subconsciously prompting others to question our sincerity or integrity. Incongruity can take a couple of forms. At its most benign, the speaker simply doesn’t support their message with the appropriate inflection and emotion, leaving the listener confused and unmotivated. We’ve all heard monotone speakers try and fail to inspire action. Another more objectionable form of dissonance—doomed from the start— happens when the communicator deliberately hides behind a façade to put a positive spin on a negative message. Pretense always undermines trust. To combat these forms of incongruity, start by grounding yourself with a clear intention to connect with your listener and earn trust. Ask yourself, “How do I want my audience to feel?” to guide more congruent expressions. If you’re delivering bad news, don’t hide it. Instead, prepare the audience by purposefully syncing and slowing your delivery and gestures. Use pauses to allow your listener to react and absorb the information. Build emotional awareness Emotional leaking is incongruity’s more troublesome cousin. Trust instantly splinters when unintended emotions disrupt your message. It’s like trying to listen to a radio station that’s not quite tuned in; the message is there, but it’s overcome by static. Our bodies experience and express emotions long before we’re cognitively aware. If high-stakes communication triggers anxiety, hurt, frustration, anger, or any strong emotion in you, there’s a good chance you’ll unconsciously leak that feeling. Unfortunately, there’s a double downside to emotional leaks. Unawareness, or downright denial of an emotion, can signal you aren’t in complete control of your feelings—or the situation. People will not only feel unsafe communicating with you, but they may begin to doubt your competency. Building emotional awareness is crucial for managing these leaks. First, before delivering any important information, take an inventory of your feelings on the topic. Decide which ones you’d like to reinforce and openly communicate to bolster your message and connect with the audience. Then, identify potential triggers for unwelcome emotions. For instance, how will you handle hostile questions or apathy? Understanding our triggers helps us more quickly recognize and deal with them on the fly. You can also practice a form of mindfulness called affect labeling. By naming an emotion—“I’m feeling angry” or “I’m feeling anxious”—then noticing how it manifests physically, you’ll give yourself time to process it and choose your response. Or try keeping an emotions journal to track your feelings and their physical characteristics. Jot down what you’re feeling and where in your body several times a day. Often, when you’re unaware of an emotion, the physical sensation can tip you off: “My jaw is clenched. Maybe I’m angry.” Or “My chest is heavy. I must be anxious”. Practice open body language Research has identified a specific set of nonverbal behaviors—leaning away, crossing arms, touching the face, and fidgeting with hands—that, when combined, can significantly erode trust. Even in the absence of any deceptive intent, they spark suspicion. When a robot exhibited this cluster of behaviors, people tended to mistrust the robot. Practicing open body language is key to overcoming this quartet of distrust. Videotape your presentations or meetings to make objective observations. Are you maintaining a relaxed posture and keeping your hands visible and still during conversations? Is your posture open and engaged when you’re expressing commitment? Make conscious communication a habit Communication is a holistic endeavor—our words, tone, and gestures must all align to convey our message and integrity. Being conscious and deliberate with your cues bolsters self-confidence and a sense of control that makes you easier to trust and more magnetic. Credit: Jacqueline Farrington at FastCompany
Beginning your job hunt can be daunting. Follow our job search tips to stand out from the competition and land a position that aligns with your career goals. Whether you’re a recent graduate , a seasoned professional looking for a change, or someone reentering the job market after a break, these job search tips will help you land the job you’re after. 1. Research companies or organizations you’re interested in Be selective in your job search. Instead of applying to as many jobs as possible, take the time to research companies so you can focus on applying to jobs you’re genuinely interested in. Start by browsing some of the best job boards for your industry (there’s more out there than Indeed). Take note of any positions you think would be a good fit, and do some research into each company. Find out more about what it does, its mission, and its company culture. A good place to start is the company’s “About” page (if it has one). You can also find company reviews and salary ranges on Glassdoor. Researching the companies you’re interested in helps you decide which jobs to apply for and gives you a better understanding of what each company is looking for so you can effectively tailor your application to each position. 2. Set up job alerts Timing can be everything when searching for a new job. Setting up job alerts makes it so that you’re among the first to know about new opportunities that match your qualifications. Most major job boards and professional networking sites offer customizable alert features. Take advantage of these by creating specific alerts based on job titles, companies, locations, and keywords relevant to your target position. Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. Set up alerts on multiple job search sites and company career pages. 3. Attend job fairs and industry events Job fairs and industry events, whether virtual or in-person, are essential resources for job seekers. These events offer direct access to multiple employers and provide opportunities to learn about various companies and roles. Virtual job fairs allow you to connect with employers from the comfort of your home, often featuring chat rooms, webinars, and even virtual booths. In-person events, on the other hand, offer the advantage of face-to-face interactions and the ability to make a strong first impression. Whichever format you choose, come prepared with your elevator pitch, questions for employers, and updated resumes. 4. Reach out to recruiters Recruiters often have inside knowledge of job openings, some of which may not be publicly advertised. Start by identifying recruiters who specialize in your industry or field. LinkedIn is an excellent platform for finding and connecting with recruiters. Be clear about your career goals, experience, and the type of positions you’re seeking. Provide a concise and accurate summary of your skills and achievements. Be courteous and responsive to their inquiries. Building a good relationship with recruiters can not only help with your current job search but also benefit your career in the long term. 5. Tailor your resume and cover letter to each job Customizing your resume and cover letter for each application is key in today’s competitive job market. To make this process easier, start by creating a comprehensive master resume that includes all of your experiences, skills, and achievements. Then, when applying for a specific position, use this master resume to quickly pull relevant experiences and tailor them to the job requirements. Focus on highlighting skills and achievements that directly align with the job description. You can use a similar strategy for cover letters. Try writing a general cover letter and filling it in with details that are relevant to each job you’re applying for. This approach allows you to maintain consistency in your career narrative while emphasizing the most relevant skills and achievements for each application. 6. Apply to each job thoughtfully Quality beats quantity when it comes to job applications. Resist the urge to send out as many applications as possible. Not only will this burn you out, but hiring managers can spot a rushed application from a mile away. Instead, apply to just two or three jobs that you’re strongly interested in every day and follow the application instructions carefully. As you apply for each job, go through and ask yourself the following questions to make sure every part of your application looks professional and is free of mistakes: Questions to ask yourself when you apply to jobs: Is your contact information accurate? Does your resume fit on one page (or two pages if you’re highly experienced)? Does your cover letter fit on one page? Does your resume include all the necessary sections? Does your cover letter include all the details employers are looking for? Is your information easy to read (fonts are above 10pt, text doesn’t look too crowded)? Is the design of your resume and cover letter appropriate for the position you’re applying for? Does your application address the requirements stated in the job ad? Are your cover letter and resume free of typos and grammatical errors? Is all of your information clearly formatted and professional? This thoughtful approach demonstrates your genuine interest and attention to detail, setting you apart from candidates who use a one-size-fits-all strategy. 7. Use AI tools to optimize your resume You can use AI tools like ChatGPT to make or improve your resume . These tools can format your resume effectively, suggest powerful action verbs , and make sure your content aligns with industry standards. Some AI platforms can even analyze job descriptions and provide suggestions on how to tailor your resume to specific roles. While AI tools can be incredibly helpful, it’s important to use them judiciously. 53% of hiring managers view obviously AI-generated resumes as a red flag. Your resume should still reflect your unique voice and experiences. Use AI as a guide to enhance your resume, not to completely rewrite it. Always review and edit AI-generated suggestions to make sure they accurately represent your skills and experiences. 8. Prepare for interviews Thorough interview preparation is key to making a strong impression. Prepare for your interview in advance by: Reviewing common interview questions and answers Brainstorming some thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer Considering any hangups the interviewer might have about your background and determining how you’ll address them If you’re not sure how to prepare your interview answers, use the STAR method . This technique works by breaking down your responses into four parts (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) to help you explain your achievements at work effectively. 9. Keep up with industry trends Staying informed about the latest developments in your industry is crucial for job seekers. It demonstrates your passion and proactivity to potential employers and helps you identify emerging opportunities. Subscribe to industry publications, follow thought leaders on social media, and participate in relevant online forums or discussions. Consider attending webinars, workshops, or conferences to deepen your knowledge and expand your network. Being well-informed about industry trends not only helps during interviews but also enables you to make more informed decisions about your career path and the companies you want to work for. 10. Leverage your online and in-person network Networking remains one of the best ways to establish professional relationships that could lead to your next job. Studies show that up to 85% of positions are filled through connections . Attend industry meetups, alumni events, or professional association gatherings. These in-person interactions can lead to meaningful connections and insider information about job openings. Reach out to friends, former colleagues, or fellow alumni for informational interviews or advice. Remember, networking is about building relationships, not just asking for jobs. Offer help and support to others in your network, as this often leads to reciprocal assistance in your job search. You can also network online via virtual networking events or sites like LinkedIn. Engage with your network by sharing relevant content, commenting on posts, and participating in industry discussions. Credit: Lauren Mastroni at ResumeGenius