In March we celebrate and promote International Women’s Day and earlier this month I had the pleasure of speaking at an event on behalf of Dress for Success. I spoke of the impact that clothing and visual appearance plays to secure employment and help our clients to achieve financial independence for themselves and their families.
Visual appearance undoubtedly plays an important role in reaching your goals. But it’s only part of your personal brand.
There’s a lot of work to be done to address gender parity in the workplace. Many of the issues, some deeply ingrained in cultural barriers, are out of our sphere of control. But there’s also much you can do now that is entirely in your control to strongly position yourself ready for the leadership roles you deserve.
Here are some personal branding tips that’ll be difficult to pass over.
Define who you are
Great leaders stand for something. And they stand out. It’s not about being the best. It’s simply about knowing what you personally bring to the table and how well you communicate it to the people around you.
Explore who you are, what you stand for and what you want the world to see. Get clarity on your vision, values, passions, purpose and goals. Once you’re clear on this, everything you do and everything you say must and will serve to reinforce it. And the more authentic it is, the easier it is to simply be it. Consistently and effortlessly.
There is nothing more captivating and inviting than someone who knows who they are, what they want, and where they’re going. We gravitate towards them, and want to stay.
Polish your visual image
Whether you’re at the beginning of your career, or an executive seeking a C-suite position, it’s important to be identifiable as a possible candidate for a leadership position even before you’re there. Consistently. Everyday.
Instil the trust in others that is necessary for them to accept and want you as a leader.
If you’re visibly overweight and delivering messages about the importance of health and well-being, it simply won’t fly. If you’re constantly disheveled and driving the importance of quality and attention to detail, same applies. Your visual image should be congruent with the work and ethos you’re promoting and the company brand you’re representing.
When it comes to appearance, women often face greater challenges than men. It’s important to be authentic with your style preference, however, “appropriate” plays a significant part in your credibility and there are some looks that must be avoided if you’re to stand out for the right reasons.
I could write an entire piece on style appropriateness alone, but for now I’ll just stay with one of the most common style derailers – revealing clothing. Overexposed cleavage can be a pit into which your career and reputation will fall and sends inappropriate messages in nearly all work environments. Just don’t….
Finally, be realistic about what clothing suits your shape, ensure a perfect fit, invest in quality fabrics and don’t overlook the grooming.
Find your voice
The voice. It’s one of our most crucial communication tools. Think David Beckham for a moment. There’s really no need for me to finish this sentence….suffice to say that it once served to define his personal image. He’s had voice coaching since. And, my, it’s had a positive impact…
Truth is I’m not simply referring to tone, pace or volume here. It’s also about your metaphorical voice.
Learn to say no and avoid the disease to please. It’ll do you no favours to say yes to everything and only serves to encourage burnout.
Refrain from apologising before and after you speak. You’re simply diminishing the power of what you have to say. Used assertively, it can come off as passive-aggressive. Sorry wastes time better spent on logical, balanced opinions and requests.
Defining a clear and purposeful personal brand helps you to build confidence and find your true voice. It’ll serve you well, not least for that conversation about pay .
Know your body language
A famous study by UCLA psychology professor Albert Mehrabian found that when communicating with others, 55% gets conveyed through your body language. It’s pretty significant.
Gestures, facial expressions, proxemics (or personal space), haptics (or touch) and body positions can significantly impact our interactions and relationships with and perceptions of others. Sometimes they are so subtle, we’re not consciously aware of them. But they can define who we are and serve as clues to our moods.
Body language communicates your thoughts, feelings and psychological state. Good leaders understand and use it consciously and wisely. Pay attention to your movements as your mood changes. As you become aware of reactions, you can learn to control them.
Review your digital footprint
Whether we like it or not, the internet and social media provide you with opportunities to both advance and destroy your personal reputations. It can define how people perceive you before they’ve even met you. It can even determine whether you secure a new role or promotion, or not.
Use it to your advantage – to share your skills and knowledge; to attract talent, and opportunity.
Review your digital footprint to ensure it’s sending the messages you want the world to see, and that they are consistent with your personal brand. And keep in mind that having no footprint can be as damaging as having inappropriate content.
Your personal brand is your reputation, your legacy, the people you surround yourself with, your actions, your talents, your authenticity. Define and share it, from the inside out, and watch how people and opportunities gravitate towards you.
-->