Will an outdated image affect your business success?

Recently, I worked with a major airline that had gone through extensive image and rebranding efforts. My role was training and offering individual coaching to the employees who would train the new hires. The goal for this organization was to insure that these trainers were able to communicate and demonstrate their airline’s new brand. The company’s advertising and marketing efforts were communicated internally so the employees would know and understand the branding changes.

I noticed during my initial training efforts that many of the employees chosen to represent and communicate this airline’s new image had not updated their own image in awhile. As company representatives, their image was not in line with the company’s new brand. This would make it difficult for them to go out and effectively train new employees.

I believe and train my clients that image is comprised of three As – your appearance, your attitude and your actions. These three need to be aligned, positive and professional for your image to be positive.

Does your image need updating? If any of the following apply to you, it may be time to make a few changes to your personal appearance or communication style.

Hair – Have you been wearing your hair in the same style for more than five years? If so, it is time for an updated, current style. Banana clips and scrunchies have been out of style for two decades. Replace them with hair accessories that are more current.

Clothing – Your goal is to look current, polished and professional. Some items will date you immediately: large shoulder pads, stir-up pants, ponchos, any garment that has a spot, a stain or is faded. Fads come and go within six months, so be mindful of the amount of money you spend on these items.

First impressions – What type of first impression do you make? How do others remember you? Is that first impression powerful or sad? Do you cause others to want to work with you and your organization or look elsewhere? First impressions are made within the first 30 seconds of any initial meeting and are powerfully positive or negative. First impressions are made in person, via phone, via email, instant messaging and in your written correspondence. I suggest that you ask friends, colleagues and peers to analyze your first impression and give you some feedback.

Communication style – Passive and aggressive communicators are not effective and need to learn how to become assertive. Passive communicators are those who don’t stand up for themselves and are afraid of conflict. They want to be remembered as nice. Aggressive people want to win at all costs. They think that their ideas are always right and do not listen.

Vocal presence –What type of message does your vocal impression make? Do you speak too softly or loudly? Do you use too many filler words or none at all? When you are nervous, do you speak too quickly? Do you share your enthusiasm or do you sound more monotone?

A polished, sophisticated and professional image are necessary traits to possess is today’s uncertain business world. Projecting a current image tells others that you are current in your business applications and know what is going on. If you sincerely work on updating these five areas, you will continue to make yourself marketable and invaluable to your company.

Business Etiquette

Cell phones, checking email at a client site, iPods, blackberries etc. - when is it appropriate to use them in the business arena? The latest technology has changed the way we do business. It gives us the tools we need to respond to our clients at a moments notice. It is important to keep in mind though that common courtesy is still important. Here are a few tips:

iPods - Be mindful to manage the perception of billable hours if you are working at a client site as well as the perception that you are hard at work when your manager walks by. Having an iPod or blue tooth in your ear all day long may not leave the impression that you are focused on the task at hand.

Cell phones - Cell phones need to be turned off during business meetings, at the office or in a restaurant. If you have an important call to take, inform your guest ahead of time. This will make taking the call less intrusive. Step away while you talk, keep it brief and return to the business at hand.

Blackberries – Don’t assume that it is appropriate to check and respond to your email messages while engaging in conversations, during a meeting or visiting a client.

RSVPs – When you are invited to a business or social event and an RSVP is requested, it is your responsibility to let the other party know if you are or are not attending. To not respond sends a message of self-centeredness; that you are more important than the person who issued the invite.

Returning Phone Calls and Responding to Email Messages – To be on top of your game and leave others wowed by your etiquette skills, our recommendation is to return your phone calls by the end of each business day. Email messages call for the same respect – let the sender know that you received the message and promise a time for your response. It is always better to under promise and over deliver rather than over promising and under delivering.

What is appropriate business casual attire?

Casual summer days mean more relaxed clothes like t-shirts, tank tops, cutoffs and flip flops. Are these warm weather favorites appropriate for the business casual days at an office? The answer is absolutely not!

After years of providing professional image consulting services I have noticed that as the temperature rises, so does the demand for our programs on casual business attire and dress code services. Many companies are especially challenged at this time of year because the overall atmosphere in many offices turns a little more casual. Without a well communicated dress code, employees will most likely push the limit of appropriate office attire. What makes business casual even more complicated is that no two companies are alike. What works for a boutique advertising agency may not work for an investment bank.

Business casual policies originated with a few technology companies in the 1980’s as a perk for employees. Today, over 97% of companies have business casual programs. As the popularity of business casual has increased, so have the challenges faced by companies to implement and maintain the policies.

Here are a few suggestions I have for companies struggling with business casual issues:

1. A Company’s Image Starts at the Top
Company leaders and managers should all be in agreement about the corporate image they want to convey. This includes overall attire as well as business casual dress. A manager who is not dressed appropriately cannot confront one of their employees about wardrobe choices. It’s not about personal taste - it is about mirroring your company’s image.

2. Have a Well Defined Dress Code
Every employee has a different interpretation of what defines business casual. There is a big difference between casual attire and business casual attire. A well thought out, clearly communicated dress code can alleviate any confusion.

3. What to Wear
Appropriate business casual dress mixes the professionalism of business attire with the comfort of casual wear. For a polished, yet comfortable look try dress trousers, cotton or linen trousers or skirts [for females], khakis or Docker-styled trousers with a long sleeve shirt or blouse, twin set or cardigan. Wearing a jacket, blazer or cardigan step up your look. Think of mixing and matching your favorite structured pieces and updating your look with a few current pieces. Invest in good quality year-round fabrics and buy the best that you can afford.

4. What Not to Wear
As I have said, appropriate business casual attire can vary from company to company. There are some things however which are inappropriate across the board: visible tattoos, midriffs showing, inappropriate display of undergarments, visible cleavage, pants that are too low rise, sweat shirts, workout clothes, flip-flops, athletic shoes and anything too tight or too loose.

Remember, the same focus and attention to detail that we mustered up on the interview applies to what we are wearing in business casual dress.

Professional Coaching for Newly Promoted Managers

Companies retain excellent employees by promoting from within. As an Executive Coach, much of my time is spent with newly appointed managers to help them strengthen the skills they need to be effective corporate leaders.

While many employees are technically competent and excel within their field, they are often not prepared to deal with the leadership challenges that await them. Often times these new managers are especially uncomfortable about giving direction to and gaining peak performance from their former peers. They are reluctant to give the impression that they are leaving their friends behind to move up the corporate ladder.

My initial role in these situations is to help new managers gain self confidence in their own ability to lead. In a leadership role, the goal is for your employees to respect you - not necessarily like you. I urge them to talk candidly to their employees about their new management role and the new responsibilities associated with it.

The next step is to work on what I like to call the Toolbox of Assertion. This includes skills in setting and communicating boundaries, making effective requests, declining with dignity, confronting when necessary and giving and receiving feedback. These are all learnable skills and crucial to a manager’s success.

By providing new managers with professional coaching early on, companies can invest in the long term success of its leaders. This not only saves money by minimizing employee turnover and low morale but can also improve the overall work environment.

More info. on Executive Coaching

Future Topics:
Topics that Donna will be addressing in the future include but are not limited to:

• Executive Coaching
• Business Casual Dress
• Technology
• Etiquette

If you have a topic that you would like Donna to speak to we'd love to hear from you. Please email Donna at: dpanko@professionalskillbuilders.com