CHAPTER 11 Developing a Professional Presence “Books are judged by their covers, houses are judged by their curb appeal, and people are initially evaluated on how they choose to dress and behave. In a perfect world, this is not fair, moral, or just. What’s inside should count a great deal more. And eventually it does, but not right away. In the meantime, a lot of opportunities can be lost.” -Susan Bixler & Nancy Nix-Rice, Authors, The New Professional Image © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Before reading Chapter 11, how would you have explained “professional presence”? How do you explain “professional presence” after reading Chapter 11? Professional Presence © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
A dynamic blend of poise, self-confidence, control and style Empowers us to be able to command respect in any situation Permits us to project confidence that others can quickly perceive Permits us to rise above the crowd Professional Presence © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The Importance of Making a Good First Impression First impressions are lasting ones First impressions are the first step in building a long-term relationship The secret to making a good first impression: –Social generosity –Putting the emotional focus on the other person(s) © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The Importance of Making a Good First Impression The Primacy Effect The tendency to form impressions quickly at the time of initial meeting Later information is either ignored or reinterpreted based on initial framework First impressions represent 100% of what they know about you at that point © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The First Few Seconds Our thinking is not always rational Decisions happen subconsciously in a split second Assumptions vs. Facts Initial impressions are made up of assumptions and facts The briefer the encounter, the greater the chance for misinformation The Importance of Making a Good First Impression © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Cultural Influences Stereotypes of entire groups can be formed during early years Lead us to have impressions of some people before we even meet them The Importance of Making a Good First Impression Do you believe dress codes are discriminatory of diverse cultures? What principles should organizations follow when creating culture-sensitive dress codes? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The Image You Project © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Surface Language: A pattern of immediate impressions conveyed by appearance What contributes to your surface language? Basic principles of appearance that withstand time: If you want the job, look the part If you want the promotion, look promotable If you want respect, dress as well or better than industry standards The Image You Project: Through Surface Language © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Selecting Career Apparel Special uniforms for particular jobs Project an image of –consistent quality –good service –uniqueness Uniforms can enhance company cohesiveness & add to company spirit The Image You Project: Through Career Apparel © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Wardrobe Engineering: Describes how clothing and accessories can create a certain image Effective packaging is an individual matter based on a variety of factors The Image You Project: Through Wardrobe Engineering What factors should be considered when deciding if an ensemble is appropriate? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The Business Casual Look Movement toward greater comfort and individuality Wear dressier business clothing when meeting with customers or clients Wear clothing that is clean, neat and fits well The Image You Project: Through The Business Casual Look What other standards of dress are wise to abide? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
After overall appearance, facial expressions are the most visible part of you Provides clues to identify the inner feelings of another Strongly influence people’s reactions to each other The Image You Project: Through Facial Expression © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The way you enter an office or business meeting can influence the image you project Project self-confidence with: a strong stride a friendly smile good posture a genuine sense of energy The Image You Project: Through Entrance & Carriage © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Voice qualities that contribute to your image: Tone of voice Rate of speech (tempo) Volume Ability to pronounce (diction) The Image You Project: Through Voice Quality & Speech What qualities and habits should you avoid? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The message the handshake sends depends on several factors: Degree of firmness Degree of dryness of hands Duration of grip Depth of interlock Eye contact during handshake The Image You Project: Through Your Handshake Is gender/should gender be a factor in handshaking? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Dining Etiquette Pay attention to table manners Order food that is easily controlled, not messy Meeting Etiquette Start and end positively and on time Speak to the topic Summarize and recap responsibilities The Image You Project: Through Etiquette © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Cell Phone Etiquette Don’t use in meetings, elevators, restaurants Talk in a normal speaking voice Ask disturbing cell users to take the call in private Conversational Etiquette Don’t be too informal, too fast Avoid foul language, sensitive terms, slang The Image You Project: Through Etiquette © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Networking Etiquette Introduce yourself and what you do Avoid negative talk Follow up with contacts Send a thank you note to anyone helpful to you Incivility: The Ultimate Career Killer Civility is a form of social generosity The Image You Project: Through Etiquette © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Communicate the image that you are someone that is conscientious Show that you care enough to make a good impression The Image You Project: At The Job Interview How can you prepare to be sure that the image you project is appropriate for your interview? © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.