DRESS SENSE 

You probably know someone that is a sharp dresser and is regarded by everyone as fashionable.  That person has built an image which dictates how people describe them. In the same vein, it’s  possible to build a negative image based on how you dress. You need to decide on a dress sense and  be consistent about it. Understand that the way you are seen communicates your perceived worth  and seriousness. When I was a young professional I wanted to be taken seriously at my workplace and so I started wearing suits daily. I met resistance at first because I was breaking the norm but  ultimately the approach earned me respect and changed people’s views of me.

YOUR SPEECH  

Beyond how we look, people judge us based on how we speak. This is in the words we say and how we say them. If you are a timid person, you don’t have to tell people as they will pick it up from how  you talk about yourself. A person that believes in themselves will always talk positively about their

abilities and potential. The way you talk about yourself is a reflection of your self-image. So as you  form that brand ensure that you not only walk the walk but you talk the talk as well.

SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUTTE 

The internet is a great place for sharing information and following people that interest you. We put  up our thoughts through statuses, tweets and pictures. It’s all fun and games until what you post has  a ripple effect outside of social media. An example of this is earlier this year when Kevin Hart lost out  on presenting the 2019 Academy Awards due to a 2011 tweet that was deemed discriminatory.  Similarly you can damage your personal brand through the type of posts you share on social media.  People look at what you post and form an opinion of you. It’s completely on you to control what the  world thinks of you. Let your posts be guided by your values and the personal brand you wish to  build.

BEHAVIOURS  

Every professional sportsman is endorsed by a well-known brand. On the basis of the level of  recognition & popularity that the athlete has amassed, the companies are willing to attach their own  names to the athlete’s. This on the premise of the value of their personal brand, which goes beyond  being great at sports as it includes how they carry themselves in public. A few years ago Tiger  Woods’ personal affairs received a lot of negative press and led to the loss of some endorsement  deals. In your own life you may lose out on valuable relationships and business deals on the basis of  your conduct.

So I thought let me jot down a few points to help those new to the work environment:

1. Take time to go through the agenda prior to the meeting. This will allow you to do research in need and prepare yourself for any questions that may come your way. If it’s your meeting, ensure you send out an agenda well in time.

2. Pay attention as different people speak or present. This will allow you to make informed comments and ask relevant questions. Few things are as off putting as asking about something that has already been addressed in the same meeting.

3. Apply emotional intelligence at all times. If you disagree with someone, don’t engage your emotions. It isn’t a professional sight to be shouting with someone. Rather agree to discuss one on one after the meeting.

4. Keep your phone on silent and in your bag or pocket. Avoid leaving it on the desk. The temptation to check it can be very strong. Being on your phone is a sign of being bored and is disrespectful.

You likely know someone that is talented in a certain area and everyone can see it except the person. They will usually undermine their work or point to someone better than them. Their view of themselves is negative and their speech tends to be in a debasing tone. Put in another way, they have a negative self-image.

What is a self-image? 

Self-image is essentially how you view and describe yourself. It is the foundation of your external image; your personal brand. You can’t portray something to the outside world that you don’t first see in yourself. Put inversely, our personal brands stem from what we think of ourselves. It is hard to dress in a way that doesn’t match your level of confidence and self-worth,  hence the first step to building a personal brand is alignment to ‘the self’.

What goes into your self-image?

Our environment is a key factor that influences how we view ourselves. If you grew up in a place of poverty, it’s easy to associate yourself as someone worth growing up in such an area. For you to be raised in a household that struggles and then grow up to live a well off life takes a positive self image. The world is filled with examples of millionaires that grew up in tough times, with parents that barely had enough money to meet their needs. These are people that decided that they are capable of creating wealth; they saw themselves as having potential despite their environment.

Another factor is what you are told by those around you growing up. This can be people your age or those older than you. People can say words that either build you up or make you insecure. What often happens is that over time we accept what is continuously said about us.

A third element is the way we talk to ourselves; it is a result of both the environment that we were raised in and the people around us. We either constantly beat ourselves up or encourage ourselves. A key point is appreciating the difference between failing to achieve something and being a failure, one is an act whereas the other is a trait. Therefore, we need to be aware of and manage what we way talk to ourselves about…ourselves.

How do you fix your self image? 

You start by recognizing what your current self image is. A great way to do this is to sit down and write all the negative things you think of about yourself, along with all your doubts. Then dissect the root of each one of these, trace them back to where they started. These likely exist due to past failures, others people’s experience or what you grew up being told by those around you.

Sieve out all that is baseless and you will start to see your reflection a bit clearer.

I grew up with a terrible stutter. Classmates would make fun of me and so in turn I ended up being a reserved kid. I wasn’t shy but I was quiet. My teachers would often say to my folks “He’s smart but very shy”. Until that became the song that everyone sang. With time I started singing it too by accepting that to be what I’m known for. That led to me closing myself off to a number of opportunities that needed me to speak up, have my picture taken or stand in front of a crowd. Shy people aren’t known for being outgoing and so I complied with the norm. Eventually I “found” myself and now I’m a public speaker. It wasn’t an easy stage to reach because it involved rejecting something I had carried all my life. Let’s look at the thought process that will allow for reflection through a couple of questions.

Do you have a negative label?

Is it fair that you have been given that tag?

What image do you want to have instead?

Once you have answers to these, you need to then map a path that leads to the brand that you desire to have instead. The building blocks needed to set that up include:

Intention

The first ingredient is deciding to set up a specific brand or perception about you. Your behaviour and decision making should be all done with the end goal in mind. Nike has a branding strategy; there is no reason why you shouldn’t have one too.

Definition

Your desired image should be crystal clear. We can summarize this into how you dress, your social media presence and what events you feature in.

Strategy

Now that you know where you want to go, you then fill in the gaps around what you need to get there. This will involve upskilling, possibly amendments to your wardrobe and making time for reviewing if your approach is effective.

No label is permanent; it’s up to you to define your brand. Gauge the label that’s been put on you and make sure you are proud to be known by it.

The attractiveness of a product is in two parts; its presentation and the solution it provides. Similarly your appeal is hinged on how you present yourself and what you offer. While you can dress well and smell good, these can both be undone if your self-image is off the mark. Self-image is simply what you think of yourself with regards to your abilities, personality and potential. It is formed over time through the thoughts that others have of you as well as the ones that you have about yourself. You have the ability to form either a positive or a negative perception of yourself. Someone with a negative self-image will lack ambition, downplay their achievements and will settle for less than what they deserve. This internal view has a domino effect that will affect your self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem. While the reasons for having a negative self-image will seem reasonable to you, they are often an over emphasis of your flaws and mistakes. So while you may be selling a great product, you may be offering it at a discount through undervaluing yourself.

The way to correct the position is to adjust your focus to the positive traits you possess. This is a process of being bold and objectively listing all your strengths, achievements and talents. Asking a close and objective friend what their view is on your strong points can yield unexpected feedback and help you become more aware of good traits you took for granted. The aim of doing this is to shed some sunshine on the gloomy picture of what you think of yourself. Over time you train your mind to stay fixed on these positives. This is complemented by the conversations you have with yourself, while we generally tend to be harsh on ourselves it is key to remind yourself of the positive attributes that you possess.

As you sell yourself, know you worth and never offer anyone a discount.

While you may not attend events in unironed or mismatching clothes dressing in an ‘ok’ outfit ensures that you blend in and don’t make a mark. The truth is people judge you based on how you are dressed. As you introduce yourself part of their focus is on your looks. You may be witty and eloquent but dressing in a dull manner is sure to dilute your worth.

Consistently dressing well says a couple of things about you:

• You value your image.
• You appreciate that your presentation is people’s first impression of you.
• There is a clear element of being intentional about your brand.

While people may not be consciously aware of it, they will take you seriously if it is evident that you do as well. The more you are seen this way the more you start to develop a brand as ‘that always well dressed’ person. It is vital to strive for a brand that is associated with positive features. Let’s look at a few basics to consider when attending a corporate event:

• Take note of any advice on attire noted on the invite.
• Aim to be recognized due to how presentable you are and not for how colorful your outfit is.
• If you wear a suit, ensure that it’s a fine fit. Baggy clothes make one look clumsy and not bright.
• Dress in line with the location of the event. If it’s in a garden then it’s safe to take it as a smart casual affair. Events held in conference centers are generally formal affairs.

Diamond rings aren’t presented in rugged leather casings but in cases that are covered in suave black suede. Have that image in mind next time you think of grabbing the nearest outfit when heading to an event.