Creating a positive first impression…
In today's diverse workplace, your actions and motives are
constantly under scrutiny. It is therefore important to manage your
professional image before others do it for you. Ask yourself the
question: what first impression do I want to create? What do I want
my key audiences (prospective colleagues or clients etc) to say
about me when I have left the room?
Having a clearer sense of your desired professional image will
help you make the right choices towards creating a positive first
impression. This article seeks to answer some common questions
about first impressions - Why does it matter? How can you maximise
your first impressions - what are the lowest hanging fruit? How to
look good on a budget?
Why do first impressions matter?
If you make a positive first impression and something later goes
wrong, it may not matter and you could still be given a second
chance. However, if you make a negative first impression and
something goes wrong - you may just confirm their worst fears about
you.
There are a number of things that contribute to a first
impression - and whether we believe it is happening or not, people
do judge us when meeting us for the first time. Often this is
happening at a sub conscious level. It only becomes conscious
thought for the other person when something about you is not what
they expected. For example, in a meeting with your bank manager,
you would not expect them to greet you wearing beach shorts,
t-shirt and jandals. Research tells us that before people even hear
what we have to say, they have started judging our message by our
appearance, body language and tone of voice.
A few key tips to maximise that first impression:
What you wear - be appropriate! This will depend on the
situation. You will need to balance your individual style with the
need to fit in with what others might expect from your role. Dress
for the role you seek next so others already see you fitting in.
Wear clothes that fit you well and work for you in terms of style
and colours etc (be honest with yourself). If you have trouble with
this it might be worth investing in an image consultant to help you
get it right. This can also save you money. Remember - too much
flesh is not okay!
- Grooming - You don't need expensive designer
clothes to look good. Often these can be lost if all people see is
a poor haircut, dirty shoes or a suit long overdue for a clean and
press.
- Accessories - This can be a great way to add a
touch of your style and make a few items of clothing go
further.
- How formal do I need to be? - A rule of thumb, if you don't
need to change when you get home, you have been too informal in
your dress for work.
- Body Language - People notice good posture and
whether you are confident and at ease with others. Stand tall and
don't slouch. Your eye contact needs to be direct but not invasive.
A firm handshake is important for both woman and men. Test yours
with a friend.
- Introductions - Be proactive and introduce
yourself - don't always wait for others to do it for you.
- Tone and Language - Use confident language.
Avoid sentence fillers because they clutter up your language and
make you appear hesitant. Remove self-deprecating words, such as
perhaps, maybe, a wee bit. Use direct and active speech: "We
completed the project on time". Don't talk too casually - better to
start out more formal and then change if it seems appropriate.
- Looking good on a budget - A common mistake,
particularly among women, is that we think we need a lot of things
in our wardrobe to maintain an image of looking good. The reality
is that having a few items that mix and match with each other works
just as well, if not better. It you need to travel with your work,
it also makes packing easier!
If your budget is tight, spend your money on the items that you
wear everyday rather than on a party dress you might wear once a
year. For example, I have a suit that is now 6 years old. When I
bought it I paid as much as I could afford at the time; it was
moderately expensive, but not over the top. It still looks new and
I get heaps of wear out of it. It is a good fabric, classic fit,
travels and wears well - and for a busy mum this is really
important. I can mix inexpensive tops and accessories with that
suit to make it look different - and make it work for a new
season.
Dressing well on a budget is about making smart choices for you,
combined with good grooming.
If you would like the help of an image consultant I can
recommend D&N image consultants in Auckland. Phone Nikki on 021
680646.
Take control
So be aware of how others who are meeting you for the first time
may be interpreting the numerous little signals you're sending off.
Try to control the ones you can do something about. Dress
appropriately, speak clearly and shop wisely. Good luck!
What are your thoughts on first impressions? We'd love to hear
your questions and/or feedback on Penny's article. Please either
fill in the feedback form below or start a new thread on our
bulletin board!