I’m a midlevel and have been struggling a bit with the client relationship side of the job. I’ve been told I’m nice and easy to work with, but that I don’t have a lot of charisma.
I can make small talk and read social cues fine, but I tend to come across as pretty serious. I’m not naturally great at joking around with clients, working a room, or being the person whom everyone loves.
How much of it is actually learnable? Or is this mostly personality and I’m better off focusing on doing good work? I am interested in making partner but I worry this problem is holding me back increasingly so.
Curious especially to hear from people who weren’t naturally outgoing but became good at client development.