Look Like A Winner
By Elaine Heng
Many people have misconceptions about the term 'image consulting', believing it to be all about giving advice on how to be fashionable. Some even feel that image consulting is only for the rich and famous, beauty queens or model wannabes.
But image consulting is not about following the fashionable crowd. As Napoleon Bonaparte once said:"Fashion condemns us to many follies; the greatest is to make ourselves its slave."
Image consulting, instead, takes a more holistic approach to appearance.Its guides people to achieve a well-groomed appearance, and improves their communication skills and etiquette so that they can act appropriately and confident in any situation.
Image consulting is for everyone. Children aged between 9 and 12 years, for example, can attend social graces and dining etiquette courses to improve their social skills. Well-behaved children are always more welcome than those who are not.
Good manners not only the foundation for future success in their lives and careers, but will also give them confidence in handling social situations as they mature.
Are you returning to work after an absense of a couple of years? Do you have a job interview, or an important meeting or a first date? Or maybe you just want to revamp your image. Whatever your situation, if you look the part, you are more likely to act the part.
When you look good, you will feel good about yourself. Subsequently, you are more likely to project yourself positively and act confidently. An attractive image will encourage much better responses from others.
Your image is like your personal advertisement. It contributes strongly to your impact and influence in the workplace and in social circles and gives you the edge when it matters.
Whether you are male or female, young or old, in the workplace or based at home, image consulting will help to improve your appearance and change the way you feel about yourself. Expert advice from image consultants on manners, business and dining etiquette is always useful.
An image consultant help you develop life-long skills to enable you to look your best and act professionally. She will work on your image based on your physical characteristics, personality, lifestyle and occupation.
for instance, she may do a colour analysis to find out which colours best suit you. That will be followed up with a figure and wardrobe personality analysis to find out what clothes you look good in. You can also ask for a make-up and hairstyling demonstration to top off your head-to-toe makeover.
An image consultant also offers personal shopping services for people who want professional advice when buying clothes, as well as advice on deportment.
For executives who need to improve their networking skills, tips on body language, and social, business and dining etiquette will help them navigate social functions with confidence.
Find an image consultant whom you are comfortable with. You will have to be very open with her about your issues with your appearance, figure flaws and any other concerns. An efficient image consultant will help you achieve your objectives and advise you frankly on where and how to improve your image.
It does not end here. With the advice and guidance, it is up to you to work on your unique image and style in a consistent and confident manner.
Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression, so make the best out of it and become the stylish and confident person you have always wanted to be!
About Author
Elaine Heng is the principal image consultant/trainer, Elaine Heng Image Consultancy
Source: The Star, Saturday, November 10, 2007
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Personal Branding
Personal Branding
To succeed in your career and keep a head of competitiors, you have to build up a strong brand image for yourself
Have you wondered why Porah Winfrey's talk show is still one of the most popular on TV? Or why Madonna is still such a popular pop singer after more than two decades?
The answer lies not only in the talents possessed by these individuals but something beyond that as well. These personalities have branded themselves well, and they make a conscious effort to do things that improve their brand image.
As businesses become more and more competitive, there are many people out there who offer the same products or services as you do. Whether you are a senior executive, the president of your own company or a worker in a small organisation, you need to stand out from other people so that you can be in control of your business or career.
Personal branding is a powerful way of communicating the unique promise of value which you offer to your boss or clients. As management guru Tom Peters said in his book, The Brand You 50 (Reinventing Work): "Regardless of age, regardless of posiion, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are the CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc."
Here are 6Ps to help you make your personal brand come alive:
1. Personal
Like any other good marketing plan, you must begin by understanding your true self. Remember, you are an original-there is no one else quite like you. What do you stand for? What are your beliefs? Jot down a few phrases that describe your unique value, vision, purpose and passion. Take some time to discover your strengths, weaknesses and hidden talents. Ask yourself what impacts you the most and what drives you.
2. Perception
It is imperative that you be aware of how you are communicating yourself to those around you. In this area, you will need to know your attributes and how others perceive you as an individual Develop a focus group comprising close friends, colleagues and family members to ask, collate responses and consolidate their perceptions about you. For example, are you seen as reliable, trustworthy or adventurous with a natural instinct for business?
3. Position
You must know your target audience and business or job competitors. How can you stand out unless you know whom you are standing with? When people see your name or face consistently over a period of time, they will assume that you have something special and that you must be successful. Having your own brand keeps you visible within the marketplace as it sends out a clear message about you that makes you worth contacting.
4. Performance
Establish yourself as an expert in your field because expertise can bring you increased recognition, allowing you to position yourself well in the hearts and minds of your target audience. Get good testimonials from your satisfied customers. As an employee, create an outstanding portfolio of your past accomplishments. Create a personal mission statement and tagline. Seek out new and challenging assignments that will build your brand. Write articles to showcase your knowledge and get them published or, better still, give speeches or presentations to share your expertise and achievements.
5. Promote
You can have an amazing brand, but if no one knows about it, you will not go ahead. Nothing in marketing is more powerful than a promotion tool called word-of-mouth. What your network of friends, colleagues, clients and customers say about your brand is what the market will untimately gauge as the value of the brand. If you do not have a personal website, now is the time to buy a domain (such as myname.com) and let the world know about it. Take your personal image seriously because your appearance is the packaging will either attract or detract people from your product.
6. Planning
Make an appointment with yourself at least twice a year to re-evaluate your personal brand statement. Also, obtain honest and helpful feedback from your focus group on your brand performance, value and growth. There will always be competing brands ready to fill in any gap that you leave, so you must work consistently to close the gap. The great thing about personal branding is that it works for everyone, no matter what business sector you are in or whether you own a start-up or an established company.
Generally, people work with you for three main reasons:
>>They know
>>They like your character or reputation; and
>>You create value.
When you know youself, what you offer and what makes you unique, your business or career will progress more effectively.
Source: June Tan, The Star Metro Classified, Saturday 1, September 2007
To succeed in your career and keep a head of competitiors, you have to build up a strong brand image for yourself
Have you wondered why Porah Winfrey's talk show is still one of the most popular on TV? Or why Madonna is still such a popular pop singer after more than two decades?
The answer lies not only in the talents possessed by these individuals but something beyond that as well. These personalities have branded themselves well, and they make a conscious effort to do things that improve their brand image.
As businesses become more and more competitive, there are many people out there who offer the same products or services as you do. Whether you are a senior executive, the president of your own company or a worker in a small organisation, you need to stand out from other people so that you can be in control of your business or career.
Personal branding is a powerful way of communicating the unique promise of value which you offer to your boss or clients. As management guru Tom Peters said in his book, The Brand You 50 (Reinventing Work): "Regardless of age, regardless of posiion, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are the CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc."
Here are 6Ps to help you make your personal brand come alive:
1. Personal
Like any other good marketing plan, you must begin by understanding your true self. Remember, you are an original-there is no one else quite like you. What do you stand for? What are your beliefs? Jot down a few phrases that describe your unique value, vision, purpose and passion. Take some time to discover your strengths, weaknesses and hidden talents. Ask yourself what impacts you the most and what drives you.
2. Perception
It is imperative that you be aware of how you are communicating yourself to those around you. In this area, you will need to know your attributes and how others perceive you as an individual Develop a focus group comprising close friends, colleagues and family members to ask, collate responses and consolidate their perceptions about you. For example, are you seen as reliable, trustworthy or adventurous with a natural instinct for business?
3. Position
You must know your target audience and business or job competitors. How can you stand out unless you know whom you are standing with? When people see your name or face consistently over a period of time, they will assume that you have something special and that you must be successful. Having your own brand keeps you visible within the marketplace as it sends out a clear message about you that makes you worth contacting.
4. Performance
Establish yourself as an expert in your field because expertise can bring you increased recognition, allowing you to position yourself well in the hearts and minds of your target audience. Get good testimonials from your satisfied customers. As an employee, create an outstanding portfolio of your past accomplishments. Create a personal mission statement and tagline. Seek out new and challenging assignments that will build your brand. Write articles to showcase your knowledge and get them published or, better still, give speeches or presentations to share your expertise and achievements.
5. Promote
You can have an amazing brand, but if no one knows about it, you will not go ahead. Nothing in marketing is more powerful than a promotion tool called word-of-mouth. What your network of friends, colleagues, clients and customers say about your brand is what the market will untimately gauge as the value of the brand. If you do not have a personal website, now is the time to buy a domain (such as myname.com) and let the world know about it. Take your personal image seriously because your appearance is the packaging will either attract or detract people from your product.
6. Planning
Make an appointment with yourself at least twice a year to re-evaluate your personal brand statement. Also, obtain honest and helpful feedback from your focus group on your brand performance, value and growth. There will always be competing brands ready to fill in any gap that you leave, so you must work consistently to close the gap. The great thing about personal branding is that it works for everyone, no matter what business sector you are in or whether you own a start-up or an established company.
Generally, people work with you for three main reasons:
>>They know
>>They like your character or reputation; and
>>You create value.
When you know youself, what you offer and what makes you unique, your business or career will progress more effectively.
Source: June Tan, The Star Metro Classified, Saturday 1, September 2007
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