What Your Image REALLY Says About You
Clothes Talk……People Listen by Gloria Starr
We all have an image, whether we design it consciously or not. Have you developed a clear sense of your own professional style based on an honest and current self-analysis? Is your image in harmony with your desired outcome? Does your image reflect your personal and professional standards and ethics and at your professional best?
Clothing and presence is a silent language, a visual shorthand. Clothing and appearance are among the most important criteria we use to judge people. Clothing in a business environment covers 90% of the body, so it is inevitable that it makes a very powerful statement.
If you feel confident about your clothes, hairstyle and personal presentation, you will send out a positive and confident image. Your personal image is your calling card to success.
Companies spend millions of dollars packaging their products. Packaging can make the difference between success and failure. Each package must say something special about the contents and each product must be packaged appropriately for the target market.
This same concept applies to each of us as self-employed entrepreneurs. You are the product and the best and most obvious form of advertising your services. Either you will be bought by your client or your competition will. People form a negative impression much more rapidly than they form a positive impression.
When you step out in to the public, think of it as a product launch. Yes, that’s right, you are the “product.” You may have more talent than anyone else in your field, but unless you have packaged yourself effectively each and every time, you may be limiting your success potential.
Successful people generally look successful. They wear clothing that looks attractive on them. They are well groomed, speak well and carry themselves with confidence. You need not be fashion conscious but you do need to be powerful and influential visually. Personal power can be enhanced with effective packaging of you, the "product."
When you walk through a door, you create what social psychologists call the "threshold effect." In that decisive moment, people will make assumptions about you in the following areas:
economic level
educational level
trustworthiness
social position
level of sophistication
social and educational heritage
success in previous and current endeavors
moral character
and even if they like you and trust you
There are lots of smart people languishing in the lower echelons of self-employed entrepreneurs and one of the main reasons may be their lack of understanding the importance of image, personal presentation and effective communication skills.
You may have a great product and/or service to offer but the first sale to your potential client is YOU! Many people invest heavily in a beautiful home and a status automobile. Most of your clients will never be a guest in your home and your clients may not see your car. Status symbols and signs of success for the entrepreneur are the garments you wear, your accessories such as your watch, writing instrument, luggage and briefcase. Imagine the look of quiet confidence rather than flash.
Key players in the self-employed, entrepreneurial arena are masters of visual communication. The truly successful are aware that everything about their personal presentation and their success trappings must be coordinated and polished to project a message of congruency.
Clothing and presence is a silent and powerful language, a visual shorthand. Is your personal presentation a true reflection of you at your best? Your personal image is your calling card to success.
Dress as though your professional life depended on it....It Does
In today’s business environment, there are more potentially hazardous clothing situations than ever – breakfast meetings, client lunches, golf outings, formal dinners, client receptions, conferences and even the flight to and from the conference.
All of the clothing that you normally wear may be inappropriate for your professional role and desired outcome. Sure, you probably get compliments on your clothes and your great fashion sense and the garments may even look fine in a restaurant, but your career is serious business and your clothing must send a serious business message.
Building the perfect professional wardrobe does not happen by accident. You may have been in the workforce for a decade and not have a professional wardrobe. People continually sabotage themselves by wearing what is “in fashion” and the “ “in look.”
Assess Your Life…..Assess Your Closet
The first step in assessing your business clothing is to recognize that your closet is like your desk. The better organized your desk is, the easier it is to find the stapler. The same holds true for your suits, ties, shirts/blouses and shoes.
Arrange your closet by work and weekends. All business suits, jackets and dress shirts go in one area of the closet. The jeans, Dockers, khakis, Polo shirts and sneakers go in a separate area for weekend and casual wear.
Take Inventory and Delete
Now that the clothes are neatly arranged, eliminate everything you haven’t worn in a year. Things that don’t fit…give them away. Garments that are not you at your personal and professional best, delete. Shoes: rundown or unattractive…walk away!
Renew, Replace and Invest
Once you have removed all items except for your look of success, you will be able to select a few additional items to complete your professional wardrobe.
Dress Better…Spend Less
Invest in yourself. There will be start-up costs and there will be a great rate of return on your investment. Dressing well speaks not only to your skills but also to your confidence level and self-esteem and the impression you leave on your client.
Cost Per Unit
The only time it hurts to buy good quality is the time you write the check. Fewer items of higher quality will look better and last longer thus, decreasing the cost per wearing. Try to purchase when the quality items are on sale. Invest in a Personal Color and Style/Wardrobe analysis. Avoid mistakes by knowing what looks good on you and suits your professional and personal branding. Remember: the sales clerks are selling the merchandise of the season. These garments are not likely to be your best choice. Think CLASSIC and TIMELESS, like the products and services you are selling to your clients.
Men: Highest Level of Authority Dressing
Long-sleeved white shirt, corporate silk tie, dark suit
Colored shirts such as blue also work very well for the Essex Advantage
Accessories: structured briefcase, tailored watch, quality pen and belt
Laundered and starched dress shirt
Long-sleeved oxford cloth or colored dress shirt, corporate silk tie, dark or slightly patterned suit
* Patterned suits require a plain shirt and may be combined with a patterned tie
* Button-down collared shirts must only be worn with a sports jacket and dark slacks
Shoes: lace-ups, dressy slip on, patent leather oxfords, cap-top oxfords
Socks: executive length Colors: either to match your shoe color or the trouser color
Quality wallet
Business Casual
Sports jacket and contrasting dress pants, tie, slip on leather loafers, long-sleeved colored dress shirt.
Sports jacket and contrasting dress pants without a tie, long sleeved shirt, open at the throat
A tie is worn if the top button is done up on the shirt.
If the top button is undone a tie is not necessary when wearing a sports jacket.
*Socks must always be worn in the business environment.
Shoes: loafer
Women: Highest Level of Authority Dressing
Matching dark skirted tailored suit, white tailored blouse, quality stockings and a closed toe dress heel and complimentary handbag. Think tailored and structured. Silk scarves add a wonderful touch of color and elegance.
Matching dark skirted suit, colored tailored blouse, stockings and closed dress heel and complimentary handbag/briefcase. High quality pen and watch
Medium to dark colors in a tailored pantsuit with a tailored blouse and complimentary walking shoes. Darker colors have more power and authority than lighter colors. Plain materials have more clout than pattered fabrics.
Shoes: dress pumps, closed heel and toe. Heel height: one to three inches. Dress boots for the winter.
Belts: good quality leather. Jewelry: quiet, elegant, timeless pieces of high quality
Business Casual
Colored dress suit, more feminine styling. Matching pantsuit with tailored blouse. Tailored jacket and shirts in medium to dark colors or tailored jacket and contrasting dress pants. Walking flats or small, narrow heels.
Image Sells- You are the Message
Clothes Talk---People Listen - To learn more about this author, visit Gloria Starr's Website.
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Gloria Starr
(Visit Gloria's Website)
Gloria Starr, President and Founder of
Global Success Strategies, Inc.
Established 1983. www.gloriastar
r.com
Areas of expertise include impression
management, business and dining etiquette
and communication skills.
Ms. Starr has been recognized by the
United States Government as a consultant
of extraordinary ability and talent and
ranked in the top 5% of consultants
worldwide.
The Society for the Advancement of
Consulting awarded Ms. Starr "Excellence
in Consulting and Coaching."
Clients include Hunt Oil, Seagate
Technology, Oracle, Hunt Refining, Levi
Strauss, Automation Technologies, Procter
and Gamble, the United States Pentagon,
the United States Army, United Gulf Steel,
Destiny's Child, Cunard Cruise Lines,
Princess Cruise Lines and the Hong Kong
and Canadian Board of Trade
Her trademarked programs the Executive
Finishing School, the Modern Day Finishing
School and the Professional Athletes
School have been conducted worldwide.
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