| Daily I seem to receive details of programmes on | | | | impact is that important, so is the personal impact of |
| leadership and management aimed at those suffering | | | | the staff - they need to be ambassadors for the |
| badly from the recession. Just such arrived | | | | organisation whether or not they are at work or |
| yesterday. It reminds me of a letter from an 89 year | | | | socially. Smart organisations know this and are gaining |
| old friend that also arrived yesterday saying that he | | | | value added this way from their employees. |
| was having to find money to pay for a new roof. | | | | So how can you get help? What should you be |
| This surprised me as I knew that recently he had to | | | | thinking about? How you gain in the same way that |
| have a new roof after severe storm damage and | | | | your competitors are? My advice is to look at how |
| this was paid for by insurance. Unfortunately the | | | | you can help yourselves, what needs fine tuning? |
| builders used very substandard tiles. | | | | How can you get personal and tailor made help? |
| Like many the programme flyer that came yesterday | | | | Think about yourself first. Have a good look at |
| told me not to struggle with the recession but to | | | | yourself in a mirror. Are you happy with how you |
| learn how to get through it. It went on to state that | | | | look? If you are not happy with your appearance |
| it was aimed at first line managers and team leaders, | | | | you are going to portray that feeling to those you |
| it had a qualification attached albeit a low level one | | | | meet during the day. Ensure that that you know |
| and seemed reasonable in cost - until you saw that | | | | what colours suit you, which colours can make you |
| this was half a day. You had to multiply this up a few | | | | appear more approachable, which colours can make |
| times to work out the true cost. However, what | | | | you appear more in command at a meeting. If you |
| really struck me was that was little about the | | | | are unsure then consider having a colour analysis. |
| individual participant, instead referring to content | | | | Think about the style of your clothing, are you sure |
| being delivered. So I was already gaining a first | | | | how to look good whatever the occasion - be it |
| impression of this, hoping to play on my possible | | | | very formal or when you need smart casual dress |
| vulnerability, tempting me with a cheap offer that | | | | for informal business meetings. Think about how you |
| turned out not to be so and not really doing anything | | | | enter a room, how you approach your staff, how |
| to engage with me as an individual. | | | | you communicate with them. |
| I wondered just how this would this would engage | | | | Then think what the aims of the organisation are- |
| with a leader or a manager and help them in these | | | | are you truly 'living' these out each day. If you feel |
| tough times. We know from research that so much | | | | you could do with some advice on these aspects |
| of the first impression that anyone gives is by their | | | | then the place to look is with a well established image |
| appearance and how they conduct themselves. In | | | | consultancy who will be experienced in helping with |
| fact only 7% of the first few seconds of a first | | | | these aspects. They will be able to tailor their |
| impression is anything to do with what you say! | | | | services to the needs of the organisation. |
| Obviously if you are in leadership or management it is | | | | We all have an image (and this is true of both the |
| not just the clients that will be making these | | | | personnel in an organisation, or the organisation itself). |
| judgments about you, those around you in more | | | | The successful ones ensure that all these elements |
| senior and junior positions are also making those | | | | are in tune and that the image given has been |
| judgments too. Your appearance and interpersonal | | | | thought about & will give the correct lasting |
| skills will be having a big impact on the ethos and | | | | impression of the organisation. |
| atmosphere in the work place. Just as your personal | | | | |