Dress for Success

Do you dress for success? Is your wardrobe complete with the clothing and accessory items that you need to look professional? Is it at least proper for your current position and adequate for the position that you are trying to attain? There are many coaching resources available for wardrobe, fashion, and overall appearance. I would suggest that you be very attentive to successful people and make note of how the look. Try to look appropriately professional all the time.

Don’t take the easy way out and default to what is comfortable or cool. Dress appropriately to the success level that you hope to achieve. Dress to command the kind of respect that you want. If you are striving for increased professionalism, your wardrobe will help.

You can certainly develop your own style as long as it is designed for your own growth and advancement. The best advice that I have learned is from self-help expert, Shawna Schuh. She tells us that the way we look is a gift to others, not ourselves. She advises us to use color and dress appropriately in every case.

People recognize how you look and you want them to remember you for your outstanding appearance. Again, don’t just default to what others are wearing or what feels comfortable for you. Remember that your clothing is a huge part of your appearance. People will judge you on your appearance whether that is appropriate and correct or not. This something that you can control. So do so.

Dressing up can be difficult at times because the default can often be to wear what is convenient. How often do we see people in public with sweats or non-matching clothes, or hair or makeup that is out of order? What can one gain from that? Nothing. On the other hand, a little effort to improve your appearance at all times at least has the potential at all times to help you. Fix yourself up the best that you can in order to make a good impression on others and to extend that gift of your best self to others.

Continuous Education

You need as much formal education as you can stand plus a regular personal program of learning and growing. Read in your fields of interest every day. Read at least one-half hour per day in your job field. You will be far ahead of your peers after a short time with all that you will gain from your reading. You will be absorbing ideas and concepts that will lead to further personal success.

Be very selective in your reading choices because your investment of reading time must be used wisely. Find some regular authors whose advice makes the most sense. Ask other successful people what they read. Again, some of my favorite authors are Brian Tracy, Marcus Buckingham, Don Blanchard, and Jim Collins. They all have a unique perspective on personal business success. They are all very inspirational. Give them a try.

Still More on Communication

The act of speaking to a client, prospect, or any other business contact on the phone is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to portray your best self. You have the chance to connect to your caller or call receiver by being polite, clear, and professional.

It is always a good idea to make a good impression. This is true not only for individuals who can buy from you but also for every person you contact.
Through making the best impression possible, you will gain respect for yourself and for your message. Speak clearly and allow the other person a chance to speak and react to your words.

Keep in mind how you would like to have people relate to you. Keep in mind also the kind of reactions that make you feel good and try to copy that toward others. Even if the content of the conversation makes you mad or upset, work through it to keep the level of communication elevated.

Make the phone work for you.

More on Communication

What about your phone and voice mail skills? These are very important components of your communication functionality and you need to be good at them. Again, turn to the advice of Shauna Schuh, speaker and trainer on communication skills, to get some training on how to make the very best use of the telephone and voice mail system.

Use these tools to portray the best self image that you can by being polite, enthusiastic, and professional. The message that you record on your voice mail is a direct reflection of you. If greeting customers and prospects warmly on the phone is your standard, make it so on voice mail too.

If receiving phone calls in your business is something very positive, then treat these voice mail messages as opportunities. If someone has taken the time to call you to inquire about doing business, make them feel comfortable with your message.

Shawna Shue suggests that you make the caller feel welcome and interested in talking to you when you get the chance to call them back. You might also consider streamlining your message to exclude some of the common commands like leave your name and number. It is important to convey to your caller that you are grateful for their call and you want to insure them that you will be calling back.

Make voice mail work for you.

Communication

How good and how developed are your communication skills? Do you feel comfortable talking to anyone at any time? Your ability to connect with others will be critical to your success. Miscommunication is a great obstacle to achievement. Non-communication is just about a complete roadblock.

Are you annoyed by service counter workers who make little attempt to communicate with you other than to take your order and money? Are you annoyed by service agents who take no interest in you? Is that how you communicate with others? If it is, you have a lot of work to do.

So much is missed in life because of a lack of an effort to communicate. Both language and body language are critical to your happiness. A bit of effort with everyone you make contact with will only help you.

There is a golden rule of communications that reads something like communicate with others in a clear and polite manner as you would like to be communicated with. If you feel good when people communicate with you with interest and respect, won’t they feel the same way when you do too?

There are many hurt feelings and misunderstandings in life that happen just because of miscommunications. Perhaps you said something the wrong way or were misunderstood. Always be aware of how well you are understood

Connecting

Actually, everything you are exposed to every day has educational value. Every conversation that you have with peers, coworkers, friends, colleagues, customers, and even strangers offers you an opportunity for you to learn and to compare what you learn to what you know. As for strangers, every encounter you have with a stranger has potential unless the stranger is just not approachable or just undesirable.

How can you connect with new people? I have found two excellent coaches on that subject. Shawna Shue gives seminars, writes books, and offers audio and video programs that can help you to connect with people in a very positive way. Get one of her books or attend one of her seminars and study what she suggests. Her advice will help anyone to connect better with others. This is an ongoing educational process and Shawna can help you.

The author of How to Connect With Anyone in 90 Seconds, Nicholas Boothman, offers great advise and insight into making the best impression with others to help you improve your life. Study what he offers because it will work for you. This too is an ongoing educational process that requires you to work at it.

Networking

Contacting people who can help you often happens in unexpected ways. This is probably one of the best arguments in favor of networking.

These opportunities take many forms including cocktail parties, seminars, soccer games, and many others. Being your best self at all times will certainly allow you to take advantage of all networking opportunities.

New doors can open through networking both in business and in your personal life. If you remain open to those opportunities, you can take advantage of them. Always be ready for that unexpected contact.

It probably makes sense to carry your business cards at all times just in case you have an unexpected business opportunity. Likewise, you always have new personal opportunities when attending a business function.

Being good at networking takes some practice. Your appearance, your communication skills, and your attitude all enhance your chances for meaninful contacts.

Making the proper eye contact, a firm handshake, and being a good listener all affect your networking abilities. Being genuinely interested in the person you are conversing with and asking good questions really help. There are some great tips available in books and on audio programs on the subject.

The important thing to remember is to always be your best self.