You do not need to purchase designer clothing to appear professional. It is more about taking care of yourself and presenting yourself in the best manner possible. Many people say that a person should not be judged by his or her appearance, but that is still the case, and if you want other peopld to pay attention to your message, you should do your best to present yourself professionally.
Your body language will speak louder than your words, so make sure that you have good posture with your shoulders back (no slouching), head up, and eyes forward. Remember to look people in the eye because eye contact increases a person's sense of trustworthiness. Of course, consider your facial expression—a smile goes a long ways.
Think about the type of impression you want to make. Honestly, there are some days that I just want to make it through the day, but I know that my coworkers and students depend on me, and I try to present an impression that I am confident and reliable. On days when I am off work, I may want to make the impression that I am fun and relaxed. Those are very different impressions. Here are some to consider:
You may be thinking that you cannot always practice everything you might say because you cannot predict what a person might ask; however, there are some common questions people ask. You should be able to answer these questions succinctly:
Another way of choosing your words is to think about what the other person would like to hear (rather than what you would like to say). Look at your answers from another perspective. If you can provide an introduction that is brief and connects with the receiver, he or she will remember you.
After the introductions are over and there is dead air, you could avoid the silence and uncomfortableness by bringing up small talk. Small talk is discussion about trivial matters. Below are some safe topics, and you should be prepared with at least two questions related to your interests.
Many people become uncomfortable when receiving compliments. Become comfortable and choose words (such as "thank you") to say when anyone compliments you. When given a compliment, resist the urge to reciprocate. Merely accept the compliment and move the discussion forward.
Obviously you will be clean and neat, but there are some details that you might want to check before your encounter with new people.
Remember that you represent yourself and the organization. Consider what your employer would want projected, and it will likely be clothing that is conservative, consistent, respectful, and impressive. Use the 80/20 rule with your clothing: Have 80% of your outfit traditional and accessorize the other 20%. This means that if you love purple, you may accessorize with it, but you should not go to an event in a purple suite, no matter how awesome you think it appears.
f your event is several hours, consider how your outfit will change during the day. For example, if you are wearing a jacket, will you be able to take it off (and still appear professional) if it gets too hot. Likewise, do you have some way to cover up if it gets too cold? I have known men who only ironed the front of the shirt and then were stuck being very uncomfortable keeping it on.
Once again, go with a conservative, traditional outfit rather than the latest fad. The clothing mentioned below WILL make an impression, but it might not be the impression you were hoping to create.
Attitude is everything! Your attitude not only impacts you, but it has an influence on everyone around you. Here are some tips for having the best attitude for meeting new people:
Remember this: You are what you think!
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Velda Arnaud,
Ph.D.
Executive Director
Lead, Educate, Serve Society
leadeducateserve@gmail.com
Last updated 6/19/16 (va)
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