Top Tips That Can Make or Break Your Image

Perhaps image is not everything but in today’s competitive world, it certainly counts.  First impressions are crucial in establishing your overall credibility – people who see you in a positive light upon first meeting you often assume you possess superior skills and positive qualities.  Conversely, when you make a poor first impression, people are left with a negative assessment of you. Here are some tips to help establish a professional and polished image at work

·                    Be colour savvy.  Often called “the silent salesperson”, colour is associated with certain emotions.  For example dark colours are best in the workplace and the boardroom.  Navy blue appears credible and professional whilst burgundy appears refined and elegant.  Charcoal grey appears solid and enduring whilst black, on the other hand, can produce negative and hostile responses.

·                    Go for “class” not “flash”.  Save fashion trends and gaudy jewelry for evenings or weekends.  Company policy will not always actually forbid unusual accessory choices but such embellishments are still unacceptable in most business environments.  This is especially important when dealing with older clients.

·                    “Casual Friday” does not mean sloppy Friday.  If your company has a “dress-down’ policy keep in mind that certain standards still apply.  Avoid clothes that are frayed or torn, unpolished shoes, and bare midriffs!

·                    Be well groomed. Careless grooming can ruin the impact of even the most expensive clothing.  Make-up should be subtle and carefully applied and any accessories discreet.  Keep perfume to a minimum. Tidy hair styles and good personal hygiene are imperative.

·                    Watch your language. Avoid slang, use correct grammar and pronounce words clearly.  If necessary, practice beforehand!

·                    Offer a good handshake.  This will be your first physical contact and an appropriate business handshake should be firm, enthusiastic and dry, not clammy.  If you enter a group, shake hands first with your host and then with the other most senior people in the room.

·                    Listen as well as talk. A good executive will listen respectfully rather than talk all the time.  Don’t stand too close to the person you are in conversation with as this is an invasion of their personal space.  Keep well-informed on relevant topics and be a polite and interesting conversationalist at all times.  Don’t interrupt and avoid topics you know to be controversial.

·                    Keep yourself in shape.  You owe it to yourself to keep your body in the best possible shape and learn which styles flatter, rather than detract from, your unique physique.  A good seamstress can help you compensate for flaws and accentuate your best features.

Remember that your social conduct says a great deal about your skills in the work place and will certainly influence those people around you.

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