I just had my mid-point presentation.  It was my first time in front of the team leadership, so it was a little like a first date.  So I decided to play it like a first date and stick with a few familiar key messages:

1.       I know what I’m doing here.

I’m not a total mess that doesn’t really want to be out to dinner with you, or is oblivious to what��s going on, or is actually dating someone else right now.  I asked to be here, so I’m here, and happy to be here.  Glad we could make it happen.

2.       I’ve got a plan.

Not gritty detail, but I’ve got some ambition about where I want to go.  This date will go like this, my career is headed in this direction, and a successful retirement party is in the picture somewhere down the road.  If it sounds interesting, that’s cool.  If you have some feedback, we can work on it together.

3.       I’m smart and fun.

You’ve never been ice skating, but want to try?  Awesome, we can learn together, and you can laugh with me when I fall down.  But sooner or later I’ll figure it out, I’ll show you, and we can do it again sometime.  And guess what:  that’ll be fun too.

Obviously, I couldn’t just come out and say this stuff.  But I think somewhere between the card game and the Wall Street Journal clip I was able to get it across.  And I tried to listen and respond – I figured now was not a good time to come across as a jerk. 

We’ll see how it went.  The feedback cycle (understandably) is a little slower than an actual date ;).