When I worked in the City, my image was very much smart suits and expensive handbags, which fitted the environment I operated in.
However, I couldn't wait to start my own business and dress to please myself. I soon cleared out all those corporate outfits from my wardrobe and embraced a more relaxed style!
Here's the challenge though for solo entrepreneurs - you are your business and your brand; so what image do you want to project and just how do you do it?
To get some answers I approached my friend and colleague Lizzie Edwards. Lizzie is a Personal 
Stylist and Image Consultant, who set up her Style Consultancy services in 2005 with a desire to help people look great, feel fabulous and make the best of themselves.
She works with both men and women who want to maximize their style and personal brand, and also with companies to help them enhance the image potential of their employees.
Here's what Lizzie has to say....
'Brands have a huge influence on the choices you make when buying products and services.
Successful companies and businesses will make sure their brand is strong, recognisable and consistent. They will have a logo, website and their values firmly in place to ensure that the message is consistent and congruent.
But what many companies fail to recognise is how important their people are in the overall brand message that is received. How their employees look and act can have a big influence on how they are perceived by the outside world.
A company which professes to be about quality, attention to detail, and exclusiveness for example, would suffer if its employees were sloppily dressed and had poor customer service skills. Equally, if working for a cool and trendy brand, going to work in a shirt and tie would be out of kilter - you would be expected to wear something more casual and up to date.
Perhaps most importantly, to anyone with ambition, is to recognise that you, as an individual, are also a personal brand.
The way you present yourself sends a message about you and your values. People will think they know all about you before you get the chance to tell them. As research shows it takes only seconds to form a first impression, and more than half of that first impression is based on appearance!
If you work in your own business this is even more important. People essentially buy people, and when you are out networking and meeting potential clients the first impression is the one that will stick, and if that impression is not favourable, it's very hard to undo.
Furthermore, as relationships are developed it is vital that the image gained at the first meeting is authentic and real. It needs to be consistent and reflect who you are, your capabilities and what you are selling.
Your image is not just about your clothes, but your voice, body language, even your choice of phone says something about you!
With this in mind you may want to review your own personal brand and how this fits with your business.
A great way to start is to consider the following:
1. What is the first impression you make on entering a room?
2. How is your body language and communication? Do you slouch or fidget? What impression does that give?
3. What do you want people to know about you, your values and skills? What makes you different? Make a list. Is your image reflecting this?
4. Do your clothes represent you at your best? Do they show people who you are and reflect your personality? Are they good quality, up to date and well maintained?
5. If not, think about how you can upgrade and improve your image. Be really honest with yourself, and if possible ask someone you trust to look at you objectively, or hire a professional such as myself.
6. Defining your personal brand can make a huge difference to how people treat you, how you feel about yourself, and how your career or business progresses. You will feel more confident, be able to show up at your best and more importantly stand out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive world.'
To find out more please visit Lizzie's website www.lizzieewards.com
To your success,
No comments:
Post a Comment