personal branding guide · personal branding coach, professor, and speaker, i have experienced the...

ULTIMATE IMAGE COACH

@ImagecoachPamT

CONFIDENT IMAGE

RADIATEA POWERFUL &

“If you want to know what your single most powerfulcompetitive edge is, just look in the mirror. That’s

right, it’s you.” ~ Jeb Blount, People Buy You

PERSONAL BRANDING GUIDE 2ULTIMATE IMAGE COACH

THREE SECONDS!

That’s how long it takes tomake a first impression thatcan have a lasting impact onyour business and social life.

Do you ever wonder how somepersons can walk into a roomand heads turn?

Everyone gravitates to her orhim. They exude an engaging,warm presence that isirresistible. They are magnetswhich draw positive attention tothemselves. They create a positive,memorable impression.

Contrast this with others whowalk into the same room and areso uncomfortable and self-conscious that they hang aroundat the farthest end of the room,and do not make eye contact orattempt to meet anyone.

IN THIS GUIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO:

Exhibit a confident, professional image, behavior and etiquette

Master communication skills, and successfully manage social and business

interactions

Stand out and succeed with a compelling personal brand

This is the power of firstimpressions.

We can all think of people whofall into both camps. Yet, if they fall into the lattercategory of being uncomfortableor self-conscious, if they arelucky they may be given thebenefit of the doubt from thatfirst critical encounter.

Be aware it's said that it takes up toten interactions to reverse a

negative first impression.

Ultimate Image Coach works with Clients to Polish Their Personal BrandSo They Shine with Confidence


HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

From the moment we enter aroom, we are examined fromhead to toe—our attire, hair, eyecontact, smile, andcommunication style.

You may dismiss this assuperficial, but it is real, andimpacts your ability to be takenseriously in business and socialsettings.

Let’s take First Lady MichelleObama, for instance. Who amongus is not guilty of anticipatingwhat her outfit will be for aWhite House gala, inaugural, orstate visit? Mrs. Obama’simpressive Harvard Law degree,her stint as a hospital executive,and her leadership on issues ofnational and global importance,comparatively, seem to take aback seat. Over three decades as aCorporate HR Executive,Personal Branding Coach,Professor, and Speaker, I haveexperienced the power of imageas a key determinant of one’ssuccess in business and life.

The good news is that a person’simage can be enhanced andtransformed to create acompelling personal brand, andradiate a powerful imageconsistent with their brand.

Does Your ImageReflect Your Brand?

ONE OF THE KEYREASONS BUSINESS

PROFESSIONALS ANDLEADERS FAIL IS THE

INABILITY TOCOMMUNICATE—BOTH

VERBALLY ANDNONVERBALLY—A

CRISP, COMPELLINGBRAND.

In other words, if there is a mismatch between what youare claiming as your brand and the one you exhibitthrough your image—such as appearance, behavior, andcommunication.

Your target audience will believe what they can readilysee, what you display.

Let’s break this down


APPEARANCE

As a leader or any businessperson, you are always in thepublic eye and under scrutiny.

The following tips will help youto exude the appropriate imageto create the impression youdesire.

For the most part, the businesslandscape has shifted to one ofbeing less formal.

Simply watch female televisionanchors and guests to see howthey are decked out in tailoredand colorful dresses, exhibiting anew-found confidence and pridein their femininity.

Men’s attire for professionalpurposes is still formal with dark-colored suits, pants and shoes,and light-colored shirts. Men, you can express yourindividuality in your tie choice.

Proper fit, style, and color stillapply. How often have youpurchased ready-to-wear outfitsonly to find they seldom fitproperly; or the sleeve of a jacketwas a half-inch off; or the buttonson the front of the blouse mightnot be placed in the properposition, which could result inembarrassing consequences?

ATTIRE CHOICE

Fit, and neatness say a lot aboutyour personality. It speaks toyour self-esteem, attention todetail, and how you manageyourself and your business.

COLOR CHOICEEvery color has a message... Use the palette of color choices toyour advantage to convey yourbrand and desired message. Color choices apply to your attire,your website, and Social Mediasites. For Ultimate Image Coach, thebrand colors are green andpurple (used on our website,business cards, etc.).

FIT AND STYLE

and purple is the color of highquality and superior service.

Green is the color of money,wealth and prestige;


You might not be aware of your wardrobefaux-pas, but others will, and that is all theywill be focusing on.

You could have an irreversible blind spotwhich could ruin your message.

On the flip side, you might be aware of theimperfections in your attire, and becometotally distracted by calling attention to it.Your confidence would be impaired.

To not only avoid these distractions, but toensure your image is spot on, I suggest yousecure the services of a seamstress ortailor.

If you are going to be on television, justknow that the camera makes you lookfifteen to twenty pounds heavier. On theplus side, a warm smile and great posturemake you look ten pounds lighter and tenyears younger.

DEVELOP YOU SIGNATURE STYLE

FIT AND STYLE

Be prepared to make a statement.

I have found handbags, broaches, a piece ofjewelry from a favorite destination, or ascarf are great statement pieces, and makewonderful “ice-breakers” at networkingevents.

My signature piece is a broach.Each one has a story.

Men, you can expressyour individuality in

your tie choice.


Your posture, how you walk, and the way you carry yourself speak volumesabout your image.

Invariably, at business and social events, networking colleagues willcomment on how “on-point” and polished my daughter, Tamara, and I look.

They ask how we pull it together each time. When I share with folks what Ido, they usually say, “You are such a great representation of your brand,” or“I totally see you doing that.”

That’s the point, Your brand and image are inseparable, and on displayevery time you interact in person or online.It is the authenticity factor. The scenario I just described represents the waymy daughter and I get most of our business, by being poised, polished, andauthentic.

POISE AND POLISH

Your Brand &Image AreInseparable


BEHAVIOR

Forbes reported that the “Top 3skills companies hire for areprofessionalism, high energy andself-confidence.” I couldn’t agreemore.

Every semester when I meet newstudents, I can project whichones are going to be successful inmy course, no matter what I amteaching at that point.

It is not the ones who have thebest qualifications or mostimpressive introduction. But it isthe students who conductthemselves in a polished andengaged manner.

It is the way they carrythemselves. They lean forwardand connect. They exhibit anattitude of learning readiness.

Social skills and behavior are keydifferentiators in one’sperception of your brand.

PROFESSIONALISM

SELF-CONFIDENCE

HIGH ENERGY

Daniel Coleman, the father ofEmotional Intelligence (EI), tellsus that EI is a much moreimportant determinant ofbusiness and personal successthan the traditional IntelligenceQuotient (IQ) metric.

SELF-AWARENESS

SELF-MANAGEMENT

SOCIAL AWARENESS

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Grace under fire

How we come off to otherpeople

How we handle corporatepolitics

Communicate effectively andbuild interpersonalrelationships

Often, in personal branding trainingsessions, college classes, and atnetworking events, I tell my audiencethat, in my four-decade career, I haveonly applied for one job. The rest cameas a result of building lasting, reciprocalrelationships.

I am a serial networker and have beenfortunate to prosper in the toughest ofeconomic times. I was not the mosttechnical at any job. I am confidentthat I have been successful because ofmy ability to connect with people andform enduring relationships.

Coleman breaks it down as follows:

It’s about being likable and authentic.

Make sure you are taking every opportunity to bevery kind to your customers.

Know what makes them happy and deliver.

People do business withpeople they know, like,

and trust.


COMMUNICATIONNON-VERBAL CUES

Everything we addressed above in appearance and behavior contributes to the55%, and that is why the emphasis is put there. Other critical areas include yourmanners and etiquette.

A simple example – you are invited to meet a prospective customer or hiringmanager at a restaurant instead of in the office. That is still a business meeting.How you order your meal, hold your utensils, eat and conduct a conversationcreate an image in a decision-maker’s mind.

Comportment is absolutely critical. This interaction could be a deal-breaker ifyou do not display good manners.

Ultimate Image Coach trains and coaches individuals and teams on thesecritical business and social skills.


Rehearse in front of the mirror,or a willing family member, orfriend, your presentation to aprospect or an audience. A dressrehearsal is essential.

One of the gifts we give to ourworkshop attendees is a mirrorinscribed with the words: FirstImpression$ Matter! WePolish…You Shine!

When you look in the mirror,your natural reaction is tostraighten up and SMILE.Chances are, if you like what yousee in the mirror, others will, too.People love these mirrors.

TONE OF VOICE AND THE WORDS

These are critical component ofoverall communication. This is anarea where practice makes perfectand we have the tools (smartphones, tablets) to make ourselvesshine.

In working with clients, I video-tapetheir speech practice sessions andplay those back to them as part ofthe feedback. I can’t tell you howsurprised and disappointed myclients are at the sound of theirvoice and the nervous habits theydisplay. A common problem is the voicerising at the end of a sentence in aquestioning fashion.

This indicates a lack of self-confidence.

THE WORLD IS A STAGE

We are all actors. So, borrowingfrom their playbook will helpthose of us who speak, present,and network for a living. Actorspractice getting into character;they rehearse.

Here’s what I do and coach myclients to do. Practice at home—in front of the mirror—entering a networking eventand introducing ourselves.


Your goal is to exude leadership presence, stand out, and step up to the frontof the line. In a recent ground-breaking report, The Center for TalentInnovation shared some insights into what top global CEOs and businessprofessionals thought were the main issues keeping some professionals fromachieving a significant and sustained breakthrough into executive leadershiproles:

“Looking and acting like a leader depends on getting three things right,a trio we refer to as Appearance, Communication, and Gravitas.Individuals who nail each of these elements exude true executivepresence.”

POWER IMAGE

The study went on to say that for those who lacked these traits, short of afocused effort to develop these critical skills, would find it difficult to attainleadership positions in corporate America in significant numbers. In myestimation, gravitas is the trait most lacking.

Listed below are attributes pertaining to the poise and dignity of suchconduct:

• COMMAND THE ROOM• DECISIVENESS• GRACE UNDER FIRE• SUCCINCT/CONVINCING

POWER MOVES TOBOLSTER YOUR IMAGE &

BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

• Always introduce yourself using yourfirst and last name

• Adopt a more open stance • Accept a compliment in two words,“Thank you!’

• Try out a uniform(or signature style, like a broach or tie)

• Don’t accept the first offer

• Order with confidence

Exuding true

professional

presence and power

takes focused work.

It requires a

combination of

coaching,

rehearsal,

homework, trial

and error, and a

willingness to make

fundamental

changes.

POWER IMAGE IS A COMBINATION OF ACOMPELLING BRAND, ENGAGING PRESENCE,

STRENGTH, AND IMPECCABLECOMMUNICATION SKILLS.

YOU ARE THE PACKAGE

personal branding guide · personal branding coach, professor, and speaker, i have experienced the...

Documents