Brand YOU

“Personal branding is self-expression amplified to influence and command attention. This has everything to do with your business success, especially in attracting media exposure and seducing new clients” – Ben Angel.

What is Personal Branding to you? For many of us; someone who can be referred to as a brand are most likely famous and well known, someone who endorses other brands and has celebrity status. Well we are wrong. Personal branding should be implemented by all of us. We are our own brand representing the company we work for. Just like celebrities do, we too can build Brand Preference and Brand Equity - we can differentiate ourselves from fellow Personal branders (colleagues.)

The best way to discover your Personal Brand is to treat yourself like a brand and use
exisiting marketing tools:

• Do a SWOT analysis:
• Your Strengths
• Your Weakness's
• Your Opportunites - what defines you from others
• Your Threats - what do other colleagues/competitor employees have that you don't and how can you turn that into an opportunity.
• Write down your mission (your purpose) and vision (your future promise) statement.

According to Ben Angel – author, business and lifestyle columnist, personal stylist and marketing specialist on personal branding – your personal brand is about how you position yourself within the market place. It is made up of everything you are, do and have:

- Your clothes

- Your hairstyle

- Your intentions

- Your interactions

- Your emotional energy

- Your facial expressions

- Your tone and medium of communication

"By creating a memorable and distinct personal brand for yourself you invite consumers/clients/customers into your world and help them relate to you. This makes it difficult for competitors to copy this relationship you have forged with your clients. Nobody can copy the essence of who you are as a person, so the more 'you' that you put into your brand, the more rewarding and successful it will be. These assets are intangible, you cannot pick up your essence and hand it over to your client, but you can definitely make your client feel it and in turn, be a memorable part of their brand experience. You must be able to stand head and shoulders above the rest in a crowded marketplace to be successful in your chosen industry.”

Ben Angel addresses a few important questions:

·         Do you have the personality it takes to take your industry by storm?

·         Does your personal brand distinguish you from your competitors?

·         Have you positioned yourself as the ‘go-to’ expert in your industry?

·         Have you carved out a clear niche for yourself in the marketplace?

·         Are you newsworthy?

·         Do you embody the values that your target market aspires to?

It is important to remember that YOU + YOUR BUSINESS = THE COMPLETE PACKAGE that prospects are either drawn to or repelled by.

“Be a Remarkable Brand”

This corporate presentation will provide you/your staff with the skills to:

• Represent a consistent, authentic brand
• Impress others with your image excellence, business etiquette and professionalism
• Make your personal brand a powerful and influential tool in today's fast-paced world

Now is the time to take control of your brand. Let the team at Professional Impressions help you or your company to increase the impact of your impressions. We look forward to helping you design your personal brand and unlock your unlimited potential!

Visit http://www.profimpressions.co.za

We would like to credit Ben Angel - Sleeping your way to the top in business - check out his website here for some amazing tips and articles. 

Your Grooming Checklist

Many of us forget certain grooming details which we oversee or do not consider important. Take a look at this quick checklist compiled by Lynne Brennan and take note of the ones that may have slipped your routine groom.

General to do's:

• Keep your hair trimmed and clean.
• Wear just enough perfume/aftershave to smell good - not so that colleagues can smell you before you have even come around the corner in the office.
• Have clean and manicured nails - especially after working with products like paint or oil over the weekend.
• Make sure your shoes are clean and there are no holes or scuffs.
• Use a clothes brush or lint roller to ensure your clothes are pristine.
• Check yourself in a full length mirror for any hems, loose buttons or unzipped zips.

 To do's for women:

• If you do paint your nails, ensure the paint is not chipped.
• Keep a spare pair of stockings handy.
• Add accessories that suit you and your outfit.
• If you have long hair, do something with it - the wake up and go look does not support a professional image.
  
  
  

To do's for men:

• Trim your beard, moustache and any excessive nose/ear hairs that may be sprouting.
• Pluck your eyebrows - unibrows are not acceptable in this day and age.
• Accessorise minimally with a watch, wedding ring and dress ring.
• Ensure your socks cover the space between your trouser bottoms and shoes tops when seated.

Package Yourself For Success Workshop

You have the business expertise and knowledge, so why are you not getting the deals? The way you present yourself has an impact on the outcome of a situation. Your mannerisms, etiquette and image are key players in the “first impressions” theory. People looking for success want to do business with people that look and act successful. Now, close the deal by packaging yourself for success.

Re-energise you/your staff by booking them on this workshop. Contact us today.

The Power of Body Language in Communication

According to Wikipedia body language is - a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements. Humans send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously. Body Language is therefore very relevant to management and leadership, and to all aspects of work and business where communications can be seen and physically observed among people yet we seem to dismiss and not take enough notice of them.

Dr Albert Mehrabian, Professor Emeritus of Psychology says there are three V's which make up the communication signals we send to others - they are:

Visual = How you look - 55%
Vocal = How you sound - 38%
Verbal = What you say - 7%

With these numbers in mind consider how much communication is dependant on how we say something and not actually what we say in business. It is necessary to perfect your job skills says *Lynne Brennan, if your non-verbal signals are out of sync with your spoken message, the people listening to you will feel uncomfortable, or may not believe - or be interested in what you are saying. Body language is a vital part of spoken interaction and it is worth continually developing your ability to read other's signals.

What do these habits mean to you?

1. Running fingers through hair
2. Sitting back with both hands behind the head
3. Legs crossed, arms folded tightly
4. Sitting forward, head nodding occasionally
5. Supporting the head in the right hand with an elbow resting on the table
6. Foot tapping, fist clenched
7. Hands over eyes
8. Direct, strong eye contact
9. Stroking the chin
10. Hair-twisting
11. Rubbing an earlobe
12. Tight-lipped with both hands on hips

Here are Lynne Brennan's interpretations:

1. Unsure/ frustrated or angry
2. Know it all
3. Defensive/ annoyed
4. Interested
5. Bored/ tired
6. Frustrated/ angry
7. Does not want to see someone/ something; disappointed, frsutrated/ angry
8. Aggressive/ dominant
9. Deep in thought
10. Nervous
11. Nervous/ doubtful/ not telling the truth
12. Aggressive

One of the most basic, powerful and well-known body-language signals is when a person crosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicate that a person is putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others. Alternatively, the person could be cold and reflects this with arms folded.

Consistent eye contact can indicate that a person is thinking positively of what the speaker is saying. Lack of eye contact can indicate negativity. On the other hand, individuals with anxiety disorders are often unable to make eye contact without discomfort.
Or if while making direct eye contact, a person is fiddling with something, even while directly looking at you, it could indicate the attention is elsewhere.

There are three standard areas that a person will look which represent different states of being. If the person looks from one eye to the other, then to the forehead, it is a sign that they are taking an authoritative position. If they move from one eye to the other, then to the nose, that signals that they are engaging in what they consider to be a "Social Gaze" with neither party holding superiority. The last case is from one eye to the other and then down to the lips or further below the chin which is a "Personal Gaze" and usually only used when in a company with someone you have a personal relationship with.

Disbelief is often indicated by averted gaze, or by touching the ear or scratching the chin. When a person is not being convinced by what someone is saying, their attention invariably wanders, and the eyes will stare away for an extended period.

Boredom is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes looking straight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused. A head tilt may also indicate a sore neck or Amblyopia, and unfocused eyes may indicate ocular problems in the listener.

Deceit or the act of withholding information can sometimes be indicated by touching the face during conversation. Excessive blinking is a well-known indicator of someone who is lying. According the Wikipedia recent evidence has surfaced that the absence of blinking can also represent lying as a more reliable factor than excessive blinking.

Info sourced from Wikipedia and Lynne Brennan's book Business Etiquette for the 21st Century - What to do and what not to do.

For info regarding workshops we offer that touch on body language click here

Personal Emergency Kit

 For those "just in case" moments when a last minute meeting pops up or the day turned out to be a lot hotter than what you were expecting it to be, a button has fallen off your jacket or your nail breaks whilst filing away important documents.

There are a number of mini catastrophes that can occur throughout the day so be prepared and have a small collection of necessities stored inside one of the drawers in your desk. There are numerous stores which stock mini travel sized toiletries which are ideal for your emergency kit. Always be prepared for the unexpected by having all or some of these items in your office:

• Lint roller
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Nail file
• Hairbrush/comb
• Deodorant/Perfume
• Breash freshener/mints
• Shoe shine
• Travel sized sewing kit
• Tissues

For Women add:

• Spare tights/stockings
• Make up basics

For Men add:

• A spare shirt
• Razor/ electric shaver

This list of items will cover the basics for any such personal emergency which may appear during your busy day in the office.

Source: Business Etiquette for the 21st Century - What to do and what NOT to do by Lynne Brennan

Casual Confusion

When is Casual too Casual

Does casual Fridays mean party on the bottom & business on top?
Not quite…

Every company varies in their Casual Dress Code policy- the main point to remember when getting dressed for Casual Friday- is that you are an ambassador for your company and what it represents.
The dress code for Casual Friday is actually called Casual Smart. “So…” you may be asking “what do I wear?” When you look at yourself in the mirror your outfit should say 70% casual, 30% smart. Here are some examples…

  Casual Clothing Cues

Colours are brighter; prints are bigger -bolder; styles of clothes less structured. More detail on garments such as stitching, pockets and pleats. Bolder costume jewellery and lower heeled shoes can be worn. For more cues - see visuals below.
Women: •Capri Pants, paired with a collared blouse; crisp cotton t-shirts or cardi-cami combination with jeans. Men: •Golf shirt worn with denims; Soft – collared shirt paired with khaki’s. Both: •Always keep a smart-looking jacket with you in case you need to dress up your outfit at a moments notice. •Should jeans be allowed-choose a dark indigo or black jean in a classic cut. For more information on our workshops on what to wear and what not to wear click here or contact us on: Tel: 011 469 1396 or email: info@profimpressions.co.za Casual Caution These are general cautionary guidelines to ensure you don’t tarnish your personal and company brand. Women: •Cling-wrap type clothing – dressing one or two sizes too small •Over-detailed and decorated tops – large bows, ruffles, slogans •Revealing clothing items (short skirts, plunging necklines) •Sheer, see-through fabrics •Shoe string, strappy tops or dresses •Vests, cropped, tank tops •Leggings or shorts •Low rise pants/skirts •Gym wear: tracksuits, sweat pants •Revealing/wrong colour  underwear •Too many colours/prints worn in one outfit •Accessories that are too large, too noisy, too plastic •Slip-on sandals– people must not hear you before they see you    Men: •Over the top floral, dramatic shirts •T-shirts with offensive slogans •Shirts buttoned too low •Too long, too oversized untucked shirts •Beer boep hanging out from shirt •Badly mixed colour combinations •Skinny or tight trousers •Bermudas or shorts •Oversized belt buckles •Colourful , mismatched or white socks    Both: •Faded,very skinny, overstressed jeans •No creases, stains, chipped buttons or loose threads •Sloppy, oversized baggy clothes •Gym shoes If your staff/colleagues feel that: •They don’t have enough time or money to dress nicely. •Their appearance is unimportant. •The corporate dress rules don’t apply to them. Contact us: Tel: 011 469 1396 or email: info@profimpressions.co.za

Quick tips on Professional Dress

Getting dressed for the office doesn't mean leaving your personal style behind. Here are some tips from www.about.com on dressing professionally for the workplace. 

Your goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path. The styles, colours, lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak volumes about your ability to do your job. If you are concerned about your career, you'll be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy.

In general, the more distracting a piece of clothing or jewellery is, the less appropriate it is for office wear.

• Colour plays a big part in professional image. Traditional career colours include red (aggressive), navy (trustworthy), gray (conservative) and black (chic). Most of these colours work well in pantsuits, skirts and shoes.
• Jewellery that jangles (chandelier earrings, stacks of bangles) is distracting. Opt for stud earrings or single bracelets.
• Choose structured style handbags - these project an organized image.
• Most of what constitutes a polished image is in the details: manicured nails, run-free pantihose, scuff-free shoes, neat hair.
• Fit is everything when you are talking about tailored work clothes. Pants should be fitted, but free of visible panty lines. Skirts, especially straight styles like pencil skirts, should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably. Jackets should be able to be buttoned. And blouses shouldn't gap between buttonholes.

For further tips, visit our website and have a look at our latest free tips section here. 

Overworked? Anxious? Constantly worrying?

•Do you constantly feel overworked, overwhelmed and overly committed?
•Do you feel the need to do it all?
•Do you feel exhausted, anxious and stressed most of the time?
•Do you rarely say “no” to others?
•Do you feel the need to be the perfect mother/wife/daughter?
•Do you over analyze and worry constantly?
•Do you have a hard time relaxing?
•Do you have difficulty in asking for help?

If you answered YES to almost all of the above, you are indeed suffering from Superwoman Syndrome. Take a look at our latest newsletter here which suggests how to overcome this.

For Further free tips, head to our "Latest Free Tips" on our website here.