Recently we spoke about the white casual and athletic shoe making a comeback. As we all know, fashion always changes. Look at the Summer Olympics, especially the runners. The colorful shoe is back flashing many combinations. Another change is that the shoes are light weight with slim lines. This trend has also shown up golf shoes.

Sock colors are also undergoing a bit of a transformation. Mixing colors appear to be the next new phase. So, the rules have been broken. Have fun with your new shoe colors!

Attached is a good example.

Skirts and dresses are coming back in full style force. In the Sunday NYT times, the article about tech women showed that the basic skirts are moderately above the knee.

Recently, in the city, the skirts look to be on the rise, hemming at least five inches about the knee. This is pushing the guidelines. However, if tights or colored stockings with a seamless look are worn, then the skirt can work.

To be on the safe and elegant side, a skirt ending right above the knees is the appropriate length.

The Summer Olympics continues to confirm the importance of team work. Yes, of course the main idea is to win a medal and the preference is gold. However, most don’t win gold or any medal at all, for that matter. In business, we are often faced with difficult challenges where the end result takes an unexpected turn just like in the Olympics.

When your team is a strong one, the main issue is that the loss is not as important as the next step. I watched some of the teams who did not win a gold. They supported each other and focused on the next step. That’s what team work is all about.

It is important to have a social media presence. For that, LinkedIn continues to be the number one place to get exposure and let the world know your personal brand. However, it does not replace traditional networking. So when you have an opportunity to do face to face events, maximize your presence by ensuring you do the following:

• Own the room with confidence. Have your pitch-who you are and a success story—ready at all times

• Be engaging. Even before you say one word offer a firm handshake and make good eye contact.

• Follow up. Afterwards, connect either by e-mail or phone calls. If possible, meet for coffee or lunch.

• Keep a file of your networking events. This will help you remember names and faces.

Networking can be fun and energizing if you take the attitude you want to learn about folks and what they are involved in. The activity will expand your people knowledge and allow others to get to know you.

A recent article in Men’s Health discussed ties and what they say about the wearer. It confirmed my 22 plus years of experience. I’ve seen that a tie can change a perception about presence. I’ve also noted that ties are on the rise for men in the business casual setting because they set the wearer apart from others. Following are a few guidelines about power ties and business casual ones:

The Power Ties:

• The stripe (rep) in blue, red and burgundy

• The solid tie works well with a pattern or stripe shirt

• The silver or black tie is used mainly for formal events

The Business Casual Ties:

• The print – paisley or flowers

• The plaid pattern in cotton

• The skinny knit

It is best to tie a tie before you buy it. This is so first, you can see if it will tie easily and secondly, when it is tied, you can judge that the length is long enough when it hangs. The tip of the tie should never be shorter than the top of your belt.

You should have at least eight ties in your wardrobe that you can rotate with or without wearing a suit or blazer.

Keep these tips in mind when purchasing ties and you will stand out from others.

A new suit, pair of glasses or a hair style can be a game changer in building your confidence. Here’s an example. Years ago, I was interviewing a client who was referred to me. My role was to help strengthen both her presence and communication style. (I found out later that she was about to be terminated prior to coming to me.)

I spoke with her later after she had become a top producer in her industry. I asked her what made the difference to senior management during her interview years ago. She said the change in her presence and communication style (her new image) gave senior management at the time a reason to allow her to do her thing because she all of a sudden exuded confidence.

In a recent New York Times article, the CEO of Four Square stressed the importance of allowing others to know you. I firmly believe it is critical to network inside your organization—to reach across the aisle and functions to touch base with others. This can be done via a quick cup of coffee, breakfast or lunch.

Besides the inherent value of building relationships, it also adds to your knowledge of their group – technologies, current business and people events. Folks move up in the organization because of people who know them. In today’s rapidly changing work environment (with flexible hours and virtual teams), we often don’t have the luxury of reaching across the lunch table to say hello.

Nonetheless, commit to having lunch with a co-worker at least once a week. Doing this will broaden your exposure and at the same time educate you about the organization from another viewpoint.

Don’t be the person who is always late. Being late lacks professionalism, shows you are not organized and indicates you have little respect for others who are waiting for you. It can be a hard habit to break unless you put in key steps to be on time.

Years ago, I heard someone say that she was always late. I promised myself I would never be that person.

So, I allow at least fifteen minutes in between meetings and set my clocks 10 minutes ahead of time. I am usually fifteen minutes early. This gives me time to get settled and gather my thoughts.

Also, remember that being on time is just as important for social as it is for business events.

In our fast paced environment, listening is a skill that takes patience and the ability to stay focused on the conversation. The biggest challenge is usually allowing the other person to finish their thoughts. I know I have been guilty of interrupting a speaker.

So, my tip is to count to ten to ensure the conversation has finished before you begin. Also, if you have interrupted because you thought the person was finished speaking, immediately apologize and let the other person complete his or her thought.

When you interrupt you may not hear that golden nugget of information critical to the solving the problem or miss learning something important.

When you smile the whole world smiles too.

• The average woman smiles 62 times per day.
• The average man smiles 8 times a day.
• 63 percent of people say they look best in photos when they are showing their teeth.
• 99.7 percent of adults say an attractive smile is an important personal asset.
• 74 percent of people say that an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for business or career success.
• 23 percent of people say they look best with their mouth closed.