ow can you update a professional image and wardrobe with limited funds? To create instant impact, add a new color in accessories or with makeup (for women).
Here are a few recommendations:
Women:
Wear shells, blouses, necklaces, scarfs and shoes in a fresh color. Green, coral and yellow are some of the latest ones.
Makeup: Select a new lipstick color, blush or nail polish.
Either one will update your image.
Men:
Change your shirt color or wear patterned shirts. It will add a new look to your suit.
Different ties and a belts will give a new, fresh look to a shirt and slacks.
Update your hairstyle.
To get ideas, look at In Style, men’s health magazines or clothing catalogs. You can also search the web for ideas on what is available. Make it fun!
People like smart people only when the smart person tells them they are smart. A new series called Suits on USA, showcases a hotshot Harvey Specter attorney with his new associate. The new associate, Mike Ross, is brilliant. He gets more done and is accepted better by being low key and unassuming.
Here are some tips:
• Ask the question instead of telling them what you know. This will enable them to circle back to you.
• Never say I told you so.
• Even if you know it, let them tell you the answer. Then agree with them.
Follow these simple tips and you will earn more respect and be considered inclusive instead of intrusive.
How short should shorts be and how long should one wear their hair?
It continues to amaze me how some do not consider their age or size and think they look cool while what’s going through the mind of an observer is “What were you thinking?”
For example, at a recent business event I attended, a person over 40 was wearing very short shorts. Plus, her hair (white) was down to the middle of her back. It was still a business event and frankly, over a certain age, unless you look like Rachel Welch or Jennifer Aniston, don’t even think about it. This also goes for men.
Your e-mail presence has the same impact, if not more than, a face to face meeting. I often receive e-mails without a signature or sometimes with just a first name.
I am not speaking about emails between family or close friends. This is about your professional e-mail presence.
Email basics:
The basic email signature is at the end of the communication. It lists your name, company name and phone number.
Avoid a color or patterned background because the text may be too difficult to read.
Keep the fonts simple (sans serif like Calibri or Arial is better on email) and at least 12 pts.
If you decide to use a picture – test it by emailing it to yourself. You want to make sure the image looks the same to the receiver
Using these guidelines will validate your professional e-mail presence.
In Wednesday’s Tribune, a ChicagoLandExtra article talks about TMAY developed by Wayne Gru, an adjunct professor at Robert Morris University. He uses this technique to help students talk about themselves. They write a script containing personal information and speak it out loud several times in a conversational manner.
This helps the students present themselves in a more confident manner when meeting new people. This exercise is critical for everyone when networking and especially when interviewing for a job or presenting in front of a group.
The main key for most adults is to recognize that we need several scripts to exude confidence for the appropriate audience. Practice and keep notes on how effective each TMAY is for your different audiences. It will increase your confidence.
The length of a human body is considered the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head, standing erect. The average height of a man in the US is 5’10” and the average for a woman is 5’4”. So, it is amazing to me when most men think 6’is the magic number and for a woman it is 5’6”!
A good way to stand tall is to keep your posture in check. The first thing each morning put your back to the wall and make sure your shoulders and hips are aligned. Then walk maintaining this posture. Sitting straight in a chair with your back touching the back of the chair will ensure you are not slouching. It has been shown in studies that folks with good posture are considered more confident and exude more presence.
So many times folks complain they feel invisible at work social events. They often feel very uncomfortable. They feel ignored. They don’t like small talk because it feels trite.
Avoid that by being visible. That is, be in the moment and enjoy meeting people. I recommend going to a networking event at least twice a month with the purpose of honing these skills.
Bring up a great book, movie or play you have seen. Travel is always interesting to talk about especially when you can give tips to others about what you liked about the location. Always be the first to introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake. When you do this you will never be invisible.
How many folks do we know who live in a perpetual drama where everything is a crisis? We all have experienced a setback or hurt that is hard to get over. Or maybe a friend will drag us into their life and we become a participant of the drama.
Here are some guidelines that will help you avoid drama queen status.
1.It is acceptable to unload on a close friend or friends once or twice but be sure you ask their permission first.
2.Refrain from talking about your issue all the time.
3.Thank people politely when they ask how you are by replying “Thanks for asking.”
Remember these three tips and friends won’t feel like running in the opposite direction when they see you!
If not properly taken care of, sweat will leave yellow stains on shirts.
An article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on May 11, 2011, highlighted some ways to remove stains from shirts. For example, Brian Johnson of the Dry-cleaning and Laundry Institute suggested that you wash the shirt instead of taking it to be dry-cleaned.
Also, PitStop removes yellow stains from cotton shirts. You can see how it works at
http://www.armpitstainremover.com.
Last year, President Obama showed graying hair but in a recent photo his hair is black. So, a recent magazine poll asked the question if the President should have kept his gray hair. 46% liked President Obama’s hair grey, 16% said he should dye it and the rest did not care.
Today, men are dyeing their hair because products in and out of the salon have become much better. In fact, it can be difficult to tell if a man’s is dyeing his hair.
To ensure a natural look, here are few things to remember:
• Select a dye close to your natural hair color. One way to do choose is to use a dye that is the color of your eyebrows.
• Go to a professional who is experienced working with color on men’s hair.
• Once you begin to dye your hair you must maintain it to look natural.
If men keep these key things in mind, their hair color will always look natural and appear ageless.
