What does your baggage look like?

I recently attended a leadership program run by former Victorian Police Commissioner, Christine Nixon.  She spoke about the baggage we bring to a leadership role.  I sat there thinking about the baggage we bring to our own personal image and visual branding.  It comes from habits, stages of life, our priorities as we navigate forward, guilt, fear of the unknown, education, lack of support, body image, lack of skills and language, fear of failure or success, our confidence levels and what some well thinking person said 25 years ago.  Big list eh?

Funny thing is that we all have some form of baggage, conscious or unconscious.  It's there.  Fear of success is huge for women and it is a documented issue.  This occurs for women in leadership and in their career.  I see it play out in wardrobes - all the time.  Angela lives in Queensland.  She's a successful business woman and is currently writing a book.  A tiny size 6-8, she carries the echo in her head from her well meaning mother that nothing off the rack fits her.  Nothing!  She's just not the perfect pattern size.  Her mother sewed and verbalised her frustration to her young daughter, 30 years ago.  Until recently she was petrified to shop because 'nothing fits me'.  Yeah right!  Not any more.

Angela says: “As a result my confidence has literally gone through the roof... confidence in getting the most out of my existing wardrobe (which makes me happy to get value out of the money I have already spent in there), knowing and liking my body for what it already is and realizing that there is a lot I can do with it (I don’t have to lose 3 more kg’s just so I can look good) and becoming completely conscious about the clothing styles and designs I do like and being able to instantly identify them when I am in a shop overwhelmed by garments.  I was absolutely wrapped with what she did for me and my life, so convinced of how transformational it was for me that I have booked Helen to consult with my 15yo and 13yo daughters. All I could think when she had worked with me was ‘if only I had this information years ago’... well I didn’t, however my girls can have it and it is worth the investment... every cent.”

 Janet struggled to see how she was worthy of paying full price and spent most of her time hovering about the sale rack.  Of course there is nothing wrong with bagging a bargain, but at what cost to our self esteem if this is the pattern being played out time and time again.  It took some work convincing this highly educated lady that she will quickly forget what she spends on that one fabulous item but she will NEVER forget how great she feels wearing it.  My rules around the sale rack are simple. 

1. You must love it so much that you would be willing to pay full price.  That makes it a bargain!
2.  Next, you need it to build your existing wardrobe capsule.  It is either a basic, a bridging piece or a statement of your style expression.  If it's not, then we label it an orphan and it can go back on the rack.  It's NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!  Got it?

 “No matter how qualified or deserving we are, we will never reach a better life until we can imagine it for ourselves and allow ourselves to have it.”

You are worth of full price.  That does not mean we won't 'do a deal' at the register as part of your shopping experience.  I've been known to uncover retailers secrets to a lower price at the register just by asking.

Linda is consciously aware and awake to her baggage of not having the skills and the language to assist her 15 and 21 year old daughters.  She's under no illusion that she can't wing it.  Her girls mean far too much to her. 

What she understands is that a particularly delicate language and a good dose of skill is required in these developmental years in regard to a positive body image and she's not sure she's equipped with getting it right. 

Smart mother saved her sanity, saved some money and ended up hero of the day for hiring the professional.


Some words of wisdom for you to ponder from Christine Nixon:

• We all have limits but many of them are not real.
• Be yourself because everyone else is taken.
• Be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else.
• Other people's opinion of you is none of your business.

I'm keen to hear, if you are willing to share.  What baggage are you carrying that you could offload?



 

A simple solution for corporate women

How do you shop for yourself?  What state are you in emotionally and physically as you go about replacing items that support you in your professional career?  Might seem like an odd question for some of you who love to shop but trust me, you are not the vast majority!

I have had some interesting conversations this week with professional women who love to shop and those who gasp for air at the very suggestion of a conscious planned shopping trip.  This week I have worked with two savvy business professionals at different stages in their lives.  Here are their stories.

Jane is a lawyer, height challenged, tiny frame, generous bust.  She spends most of her time in the courtroom representing her corporate clients and has a lovely husband and young children at home.  She's busy, needs to shop but is terrified.  Thanks to her mother in law, Jane decided I might be the solution to her wardrobe challenges.

After an hour consulting with Jane on colour, style expression, shape and drape it was time to book a 2 hour power shop at Melbourne's Fashion Capital, Chadstone.  Based on Jane's needs, I did my research based on what I knew would work for her career, lifestyle and budget.   Yes, some people have a clothing budget!  Clever huh?  Considering the cost per wear, you can save heaps purchasing the right garment.

We weaved in and out of 4 places making quick changes and placing items on hold.  Armed with pins, I adjusted hems and pinned in tiny alterations to make the garment perfect.  As Jane was changing back into her gear I was out the front with the manager negotiating the best price.  Retail fashion is down 4.9% right now.  We have some bargaining power.   Jane tried on garments that she would never have considered.  Her mind needed stretching.  The end result?  She spent less than she planned.  Got rid of the corporate suit and created a very smart business casual look that works for her career and home life.  "My only regret is not meeting Helen 10 years ago.  All the money I wasted on outfits that never felt 'quite right' and years of feeling self conscious rather than empowered.  It could all have been avoided.  Helen has taught me to like myself, to feel like I do belong in the corporate world and I had fun the entire time I was with her."

It all comes down to being conscious about where you are in the cycle.  So many corporate women are unconscious or only semi conscious in how they approach their professional wardrobe.

Imagine for a moment that you wear every garment in your wardrobe.  Can you?  Most of us wear only 20%.  So how much money are you wasting?  I know, you DONT want to go there, do you?

Getting conscious about your professional image is a decision.  You get to choose it.  No-one else can.

Sue is Jane's polar opposite.  She loves to shop and has more shoes than anyone I know!  Sue loves to dance, is recently divorced.  She runs her own accounting business and is back on the dating scene.  Her block was the smart casual look.  Suits are easy.  Anyone can do that.  This is the toughest component of most corporate women's wardrobes.

We added in a high contrast trans-seasonal trench coat and some very smart cardis, not the nanna cardi with the little round neck!  Check out the cardi on the right, soft draping collar.  Smart, NOT nanna.  Sue was convinced we would not find great fit on her body.  We did!  Simple straight leg jeans, accessories in signature colours and a couple of knock out dresses that will serve her for work with a jacket and head out to dinner with a fabulous heel and some great earrings.  A few new pieces have served to enhance and freshen up Sue's existing wardrobe.  She had fun and discovered a new way to look at herself and make her wardrobe work harder.

The solution is simple for corporate women.  It can be done in a timely, no fusss manner and the good news is that you get to claim your image advisor's services on your tax.  Too easy.

Love to hear about your shopping experiences.  What worked, what didn't?  Share your story below.

Beauty vs Brains in Female Leaders?

It appears that some employers put a higher value on an attractive face than qualifications or experience!  A PR agency admits that whilst the quality of their service is their main attraction for clients, having good looking account executives is a bonus enjoyed by clients.  It seems that as much as we think that appearance dosen’t count, it does!  This relates quite strongly in client facing roles according to Professor Nicola Rumsey who heads the Centre for Appearance Research at the University.  In these roles, your appearance is selling the image of the company you work for”.  As a society, we are pretty much obsessed with looks and reward attractive people accordingly.

Fact:  men age more attractively than women.  Does that mean we need to botox and have a face lift to stay in the corporate world?  I say 'no'!  What it does mean is that we must be fully conscious of being appropriate, current and professional.  I have worked with many senior, intelligent women who have been passed over due to their image, not their brains.  So much of this is about wearing shapes, colours and accessories that make the most of who you are and don't serve as a 'visual distraction' and barrier to communication.

How’s this!  Research has proved that attractive people are found guilty less often in course and receive less severe sentences.  Attractive applicants also have a better chance of getting better paid jobs.  One survey revealed that employees spent 1/5 of their salary on looking the part as they believe that the right image is vital to their career.

In comes personal branding.  It’s no longer acceptable to have a great business card, website and an attractive entrance to the building with great feng shui.  An organisation’s staff need to reflect the brand too!  Good looks is about taking care of your appearance and being appropriate, NOT looking like a cat walk model. 

Confused about all this?  check out successful female leaders internationally.  They have all made some attempt at being visually appealing.  I reckon they were onto something!  Indira Ghandi, Golda Meir and even Margaret Thatcher in her pearls.  You wont find botox here, but they sure did understand the power of perceptions!

Most people just don’t know what they don’t know.  It’s a great skill to know how to manage the perceptions of your clients and peers with visual tactics.  First impressions speak volumes.  You can tell a lot about someone by the way they dress and the attention they pay to their grooming levels. Of course you must be able to back it up with the knowledge and skill required for your position.  Research has shown that visual impressions are not so important when the relationship is well established, but remember you need to get to that stage by making a good first impression!  The world we live and do business in is highly visual today.  Get savvy and get skilled!

If you are a female leader, Image Quest can help you step up and match your brand to your brain!  Contact helen@imagequest.com.au

  

Bugger Perfect!

'The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection' - George Orwell

Yeah right!  I've been running a series of Conscious Styling seminars lately and have been blown away by the negative and horrific attitudes from relatively intelligent people at the prospect of having me help them in their own private wardrobe space.  Oh no!  I need to clean it out first!  It's just such a mess.  I could not possibly have you in there until I sort it first!

So, what are we waiting for?  A perfect moment when there is no-one home?  A perfectly organised and pristine wardrobe?

 Sam Leader in her www.flyingsolo.com.au blog states that the following negative ways of thinking are frequently observed in unhappy people, according to cognitive psychologists. Do any of these sound familiar?
   
1. I need other people to like me and approve of me.

2. It doesn't matter how hard you try, if luck is against you, you won't succeed.

3. If I have to make a choice, it is important to be sure I make the best choice.

4. It is important to do all things competently. 

Well, thanks Sam!  I hear you and can relate to what you are saying here.  What is it with women in particular that they think they need to have a perfect body, a perfect wardrobe of professional and smart casual outfits and a perfect space in which to store them all?  What on earth is wrong with making a start, drawing a line in the sand and making a fresh start.  Can we just make that ok for now.  How about working on 5 great pieces in your wardrobe to serve you well in your career and setting you up for a plan to build on that in the next 12 months?

That way, we can have 'good enough' for now, not PERFECT but good enough.  It's all about stepping up a notch.  Anyone can do that.

And here's a real awakening.  I'm not that interested in the state of your wardrobe or what has happened in the past.  I'm making a stand for you to move forward, not backwards.  So don't be concerned about what I'm thinking. 

Final Word:  What other people think of you is none of your business.   Stepping up your professional presence has everthing to do with YOU and your confidence levels.  I reckon you deserve better than being perfect.  Just have a crack at something!

Now, for the perfect man .........  Oh blugger, I'll be waiting forever!

Your Signature Brand Style

Your signature brand is unique to you.  It is something you become know for.  As a leader, speaker, influencer or manager how you look, behave, present and connect will have a particular style about it that will form your own personal signature brand.

This is a good thing if you are in business.  Creating a brand and reputation that is memorable for all the right reasons will serve you well moving forward.  It becomes a very cool personal signature for you.  You’ll want one!

Consider Bono’s glasses.  He’s known for them.  He’s also known for influencing a great number of people for the greater good.  Donald Trump is known for the sweeping comb over.  We all think it looks shocking but he loves it!  He’s turned it into a signature.  Important to note that he is so big as a brand that he can pretty much get away with whatever he wants.  Same goes for Lady Gaga with her unconventional and outrageous fashion sense.  Her branding can carry it.  Audrey Hepburn's signature brand style was unique and timeless.

Let’s look at a more conservative profession such as law.  Male Melbourne barristers have been known to wear outrageously coloured striped socks under their conservative and expensive suits and court attire.  It’s interesting to acknowledge that what is required is a consistent and congruent image and one that is also appropriate for the occasion and the client.  The barrister is all of these things and then sports an outrageous sock at the same time!

A professional speaker along Australia’s East Coast is known for wearing a block of the same colour every time she speaks.  This is an important part of her signature brand style.  But what impact does it have on her audience?  And more importantly on her?  She admitted  quietly that she hates that suit that she wears on the platform.  She’s bored with it and no longer feels empowered wearing it.  Colour is hugely impactfuly and has a particular energy around it.  While you may need yellow in your life for a time, it really does wear thin, when being worn as a suit for several years.  The human eye is drawn to distraction.  We do tend to notice what is wrong or distracting.  Imagewise, when something is working, we don't notice.  We hear the message and take in what you are saying rather than what you are wearing.  Take care about making your signature brand style colour related in a big way.  It can make it really tough to evolve as you grown personally and professionally.

Take the Macdonalds logo as an example.  It’s a recognizable brand and it has evolved and changed ever so slightly over the years.  Have you noticed?  Each change has been so slight that most people would not even know.  Think about building your signature brand style so that it can be freshened up to keep you current and still remain consistent and reliable.

So what might your signature brand style look like?  The first thing to take into consideration is your unique style expression.  This is all about looking at who you are as a person.  If you have a more relaxed style expression, soft comfortable fabrics will be more important to you than how it all looks.  A classic style expression will insist on quality garments and a reputable label may factor highly.  An innovative style expression is all about being that little bit different and forward thinking.  If this is you, then a garment or accessory that is different to everyone else will be important for you.

Once your unique style expression is evident, the next step is to craft your signature brand style based on who you are, what your message is and who the market is that you appeal to. 

Important to remember that this style must be unique to you.  Many elements will come into play to create a signature brand style that you can live with to serve your business or career as you progress.  If you are ready to create or recreate your signature brand style, contact Helen at www.imagequest.com.au for a conversation now.

First Impressions and why service matters

Part of what I do an an image professional is to help my clients by sourcing garments to fit with their lifestyle and career/business goals.  I contacted a boutique in Lygon St Carlton that I had not worked with before (had walked past to check out the labels and quality of stock and gave it the thumbs up).  So, all good based on first impressions.  This store looked great, great labels, not a bad size range and lifestyle range to boot.  I'm impressed.

The Experience - Lucky me, I got straight onto the manager.  Fabulous!  Well, not really .......  She proceed to tell me that due to a negative experience with an image professional once before, they no longer allow us to shop in the store.  She went further to highlight the fact that all her staff are trained stylists and well qualified to build wardrobes for clients based on their colour, shape and needs.  And then she hung up on me.  Interesting, isn't it?

I decided that I really needed to give them another go, so off I went into the store for a bit of a mystery shop to test the service levels. As I entered the store the two women working in the store looked at me.   I picked up a pair of smart casual leggings and held them up for a look.  At this stage one of them walked over to me and said 'they are great, just like a girdle to hold everything in for you'.  I proceeded to look at my tummy and toosh and wonder if it were so obvious that I had gained a couple of kilos?  I told her I was looking for a pair of smart business pants for work.  She took me to the rack at the back of the store and picked out a couple of pairs.  'You'd be a size 10?' she asked.  I asked her for the size 12 bemused that 60 seconds ago she thought I needed girdle pants, now she thinks I'm a stick?  Oh dear!

She pointed at the change room and sent me in to try them on.  Well I tried both unsuccessfully. The shape was not flattering on my body at all.  There was no assistance forthcoming and I left the change room with those flash pants hanging on their lovely wooden hangers.  As I was leaving the store, she assured me she could do an entire wardrobe for me.  Because that's what they do there.  They know your colours and style and entire lifestyle just by looking at you.  Seems they know your underwear needs too!  I left empty handed but significantly wiser.

The Point - Take care to not be fooled by a person or a products good looks.  Things are not always as they may seem underneath.  Service matters.  It matters big time.  I may forget what she said about the girdle pants but I will never forget how that comment made me feel.  It significantly reinforces for me that as image professionals we must never underestimate the power of building rapport with our clients to help them to step up to and embrace the confident and savy individual that they are.  It's about permission to give feedback.  This is a privilege that we earn, it's not just handed over.

I will continue to take my clients to boutiques where they will be respected and looked after, and they will choose to spend their money where it feels right for them to do so.  Its a sure thing I wont be going back to that boutique!  Remember Pretty Woman?  Great lessons to learn.  I'm very interested to hear about your shopping experiences!  Do post a comment!

Speed Dating? Speed Impression Management?

Speed dating, speed networking – seems we just don’t have time to invest in making a good impression any more.  Get it right first time or you lose the opportunity!

Never before have first impressions been so important.  Singles looking for the right partner are speed dating.  Business owners and executives looking to expand their network of contacts are speed networking.  Time is precious.  It is all we have.  Money can be made again but time, once spent is gone forever!

It’s a relatively new concept that makes sense if time is precious, you don’t know which networking event to attend or you are a little on the shy side.  All you do is spend 5 minutes, the bell rings and you move on to the next person.

All well and good!  In a time span of 5 minutes you have the opportunity to talk about your business and how you may be able to do some business with the person sitting opposite you.  Business etiquette out the window!  Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts and see if a connection can be made.

The reality is that the minute we meet someone for the first time, we convey powerful first impressions.  We live in a highly visual world and our impression is either positive or negative.  There is no middle ground here.  How are you being perceived when you sit down in front of that new contact?

First impressions are broken into three categories.

55% is visual - relating to what they see when they meet you for the first time.

38% is auditory – relating to how you sound.

7% is based on what you actually say!

So if you don’t make a positive first impression real quick, you have to work hard to make it up.  You don’t have much time in speed dating or networking.  Give your prospect a chance – make your impression positive!

A business women I met recently attending one of these events and overall found it to be an intense and somewhat overwhelming experience.  She met a man working in a service based industry and decided on first impressions that he would not be someone she would work with.  The minute he spoke, her first impression was confirmed.  He sounded a bit too slick and she felt uncomfortable.  Do you think she listened to anything this guy had to say?  The answer is ‘no’!  Her perception was formed so quickly with the visual and reinforced with the auditory.  And then there was no time for him to make it up!

So before you head out the door to speed date or network, check in on what messages you are sending.

Jobs for the beautiful people

Faces with perfect symmetry are seen as beautiful

It appears that some employers put a higher value on an attractive face than qualifications or experience!  A PR agency admits that whilst the quality of their service is their main attraction for clients, having good looking account executives is a bonus enjoyed by clients.  It seems that as much as we think that appearance dosen’t count, it does!  This relates quite strongly in client facing roles according to Professor Nicola Rumsey who heads the Centre for Appearance Research at the University.  In these roles, your appearance is selling the image of the company you work for”.  As a society, we are pretty much obsessed with looks and reward attractive people accordingly.

How’s this!  Research has proved that attractive people are found guilty less often in course and receive less severe sentences.  Attractive applicants also have a better chance of getting better paid jobs.  One survey revealed that employees spent 1/5 of their salary on looking the part as they believe that the right image is vital to their career.

In comes personal branding.  It’s no longer acceptable to have a great business card, website and an attractive entrance to the building with great feng shui.  An organisation’s staff need to reflect the brand too!  Good looks is about taking care of your appearance, not looking like a cat walk model. 

Most people just don’t know what they don’t know.  It’s a great skill to know how to manage the perceptions of your clients and peers with visual tactics.  First impressions speak volumes.  You can tell a lot about someone by the way they dress and the attention they pay to their grooming levels. Of course you must be able to back it up with the knowledge and skill required for your position.  Research has shown that visual impressions are not so important when the relationship is well established, but remember you need to get to that stage by making a good first impression!  The world we live and do business in is highly visual today.  Skill yourself to play the game!

 

Source:  The Age, HR & Recruitment Section.  Journalist: Eve Ahmed

Maintaining consistency - 7 things you can do right now

People believe what they see.  The first impression happens in the blink of an eye – so you haven’t got much time to work with!

• 55% is visual - clothing, accessories, mobile phone etc.
• 38% is auditory – is your pace fast, slow? Is ‘nup’ part of your vocab?
• 7% is what you say - not much is it?

Let’s face it - people do business with people they like.  This means building a great rapport fairly quickly.  What does your industry look like?  Do you fit that image?  What do your clients expect of you?  All this means is that you get some things right and maintain consistency!  So there are some simple things that you can do that will have a huge impact on your clients.  This will reflect positively on your business success too.  All you have to do is manage the perceptions of others.  You can do it quite easily!  Take a look at 7 things you can do right now:

Colour

The most flattering effect is created when you wear your designated colours. To assist with rapport building, use your eye colour in ties and scarves.  This will ensure your eyes remain the focal point – great way to build rapport!  This rules applies to anything worn close to the face.

You can create the illusion of being taller and slimmer by wearing the same tone from top to toe.  This takes the eye up and down.  Creating the illusion of height has many advantages – so use it.

The best first impression is created with a strong contrast close to the face.  This means teaming a dark jacket with a light shirt for example.  It expresses confidence and is great for business.

 

Personality Dressing

Always dress to suit who you are as an individual because people will relate to what they see.  If you have a bright, outgoing personality, choose a bright or high contrast tie or a bright, trendy handbag for women.

 

Style & Fit

Your clothing must fit your body perfectly.  If it is too tight, the perception is that you outgrew it and can’t be bothered to replace it.  Anything too big looks like it has been borrowed from a friend!  Not good messages to send.  Look out for horizontal creasing on pants and skirts – this indicates the garment is too tight.  Vertical draping on jackets indicates the garment is just too big.  Ok, so maybe it was on sale and didn’t quite fit – the perception is ….. I’ll let you figure this one out!

 

Grooming

The condition of your clothing communicates the level of care you will give to others – particularly in a service based industry.  So repair that hem, get that jacket dry cleaned and press your shirt!

Irregular hair – this occurs in the ears and nasal passages for men and women find it appearing on lip and chin areas!  It forms a visual distraction about the face and this makes it difficult to hear what you are actually saying!

Clean your shoes weekly.  This is crucial – especially for men.  Women will decide how successful you are based on the quality and condition of your shoes.  Remember it’s all about perception and there is no truth in perception!  Women tottering about on very high heels are perceived as flippant.

 

Accessories

Briefcase, quality pen, appropriate compendium to hold your note book.  Keep it all relevant and appropriate to your industry or profession.  Listen to the ring on your mobile phone.  Is it appropriate for the image you wish to project?

 

Intuition

Trust that you are doing many things RIGHT in regard to your current image.  Very few people are in dire straights with their image.  Most people are looking for skills and strategies to save money and time with their clothing choices.

 

Appropriate

For goodness sake – just be appropriate!  Whether you are working on a building site, in a suburban office, with a major corporate or out on a hot date.  Think about where you are and what is going to be appropriate.  There will be times when a tie or complete suit just won’t work for you!