I always find that at the beginning of the year I reflect on what I achieved last year and what I plan to do differently this year. One thing we often avoid considering is our personal style (and the impact our choices have on people around us).
Does how you present yourself reflect who you are planning to be this year?
There’s a lot of information available to help you to consider what is right for you. You will want to dress to create an image that reflects your circumstances as well as your aspirations. Your best party outfit is not your best outfit for work! My colleague Jemma claims that I used to wear bike shorts to work in the early days – not quite the look for a budding CEO.
Ask yourself:
• How do you dress for work? For comfort, according to what everyone else wears, or to stand out?
• How do your customers, colleagues and peers dress? Do you reflect that?
• What is the occasion or circumstance you are dressing for?
• What sort of dress do you feel comfortable in?
You do want to be yourself. Don’t wear clothes that are uncomfortable or don’t fit properly. (I have bought too many shoes in the wrong size. I never wear them. There is nothing worse than seeing someone almost crippled by shoes too small or too high to walk powerfully in. And while I’m on the subject of feet, I can tell a lot about a person by the state of the heels of their shoes, no matter whether they’re male or female.)
Rather than developing your ‘personal brand’ — because brand really relates to your reputation — at this point I would like you to consider your personal style. By this I mean your style in everything (which will reflect your passion). Start from the top down — hairstyle (and men, also consider facial hair), make-up and perfume.
Do not let what you wear be a distraction to the people you are with. Even glittery jewellery can distract an audience if they look at what’s around your neck or dangling from your ears rather than listening to your content and being inspired by your words. Don’t let your physical presentation get in the way of your authentic self or dominate who you are. Don’t hide in a lacklustre colour (this goes for men too). Express yourself without offending who you are.
Take the time to work out the appropriate ‘fit’ — for what you do and who you want to be. How do you see yourself? How do you want others to see you? You want people to hear your passion and remember you because your style matches that passion.
I have shared much about my own successes (and disasters) of how I present myself – and my consistent approach to reputation in my new book (which I am begining to get very excited about it’s launch… feel free to pre-order Live What You Love
I recently posted this on LinkedIn too…