Improving your personal impact at workLooking good, feeling great - improving your personal impact at wotk We make no secret of the fact that we're big fans of those TV make-over programmes because the positive transformations they make to their subject's appearance and confidence is undeniable. Those who are prepared to pooh-pooh the importance of looking good and personal grooming as a shallow conceit should reconsider carefully their position when it comes to surviving in the job market. In today’s politically correct climate we are not supposed to give any credence to the fact that people can be and are routinely discriminated against because of their appearance – we're not talking about race here, by the way. People with poor posture and grooming can appear lacking in the confidence and perhaps gravitas that those who can make or break our futures consider to be appropriate for the matters in hand. Richard Branson (and the net generation of entrepreneurs) may have broken the mould of the formula suit = success, but he is always well groomed and has enough presence to sink a battleship, not to mention the money to call his own shots of course. You are always being watched and judged by someone, whether you like it or not! Do clothes really matter? Yes, clothes do matter. What you are wearing sends non-verbal signals to others about our competence and trustworthiness and how well we fit into a group. Imagine visiting a hospital to find that your surgeon was dressed like a kid in a skateboarding park or had a personal hygiene problem? We may not consider that we wear a uniform for work if we are not members of the armed forces, the police or an AA patrolman but actually we do. Our suits, our jeans and jacket combos, they are all uniforms of a sort. So, appearance is important when it comes to keeping your job and getting a new one. If you are highly competent but look frayed and worn out, you might not compare well with a person who is better turned out but not necessarily as experienced as you, nor as good at the job. So, if one of you has to be chosen for redundancy, promotion or a new job, which one of you has the edge? Of course, it isn’t quite as simple as that but we're trying to illustrate the point that you need to use all the tools at your disposal in the survival game. This isn’t about beauty parades; it’s about the communication of reliability, intelligence, trustworthiness, competence, leadership, teamwork and consideration of others. You might need to create a smart impression at an interview to get the job or a promotion even if you don’t need to wear smart attire once you start the job. Bank managers and customers usually require us to pay attention to our appearance too if we seriously want them to lend us money or buy our products or services. Top tips for improving your image Personal grooming matters
Clothing
Get a professional makeover You may also want to consider having a full colour, wardrobe and style consultation with an image consultant. Prices start from about £80 and most people who have had this done report that it was well worth the time and the money. It made them feel and look more confident and saved them a lot of money in the long run because they stopped buying styles and colours that didn’t do anything for them. The two companies mentioned below are the most well known and have many large corporations as clients as well as private individuals. They have local consultants all over the UK. Many large department stores offer personal shopping services so once you have your rules they can make it even easier for you to keep up to date with each season. It’s excellent for busy people, or those who don’t really like shopping. Is it just how you look that creates a positive first impression? Personal impact is about other things apart from your looks of course. Improving your posture, knowing how to shake hands properly, having good manners, not fidgeting and controlling your nerves in meetings, looking friendly and confident, are all equally important to that vital first impression if you are applying for a new job or a loan to start your new business. Try out this simple test to guage your personal impact here. You'll find a more detailed section on image and personal impact in our book 'Rebuilding your life after redundancy'. Essential Resources |