Photo © iStockphoto/joshblake
People often tell me that image is a very superficial thing. I respond that image is simply a form of non-verbal communication.
When you first meet someone new, before you ever say a word, that person has already made judgements about your:
- age
- education level
- economic status
- position within the company
- self-confidence
So why not use your image as a tool to help communicate your desired message? If you need to convey authority at a special presentation, wear a traditional business suit in a classic color. If it’s important that people know you’re creative (such as an artist), then let your image reflect that with unusual color combinations or fabric textures.
Developing an appropriate image means not only understanding yourself and how you feel most appropriately dressed, but also understanding your audience. That means you will dress differently for a meeting with the regional boss than you will for an afternoon party at an elementary school. As I always tell my workshop participants, “You’d look as out of place wearing a swimsuit to a wedding as you would wearing a tuxedo to the beach!”
Let your image speak for you.
