EXECUTIVE COACHING
An Executive Coaching, Corporate Communication & Etiquette Blog, by Kathleen Prunty
Entries in Impression Management (61)
Coach Kathleen Prunty
If the cultural norm in your office is camouflage cargo pants and concert t-shirts, does that have to be your norm?
Conduct an experiment with one participant-you. Raise the stakes on your business dress and enjoy the comments from co-workers. You will also notice that you are treated better and taken more seriously by your leader.
In business, being seriously considered by your leader … is the only place to be.
Coach Kathleen
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Relying on your gut instinct is a great thing in many arenas, except in hiring. When you rely on your gut, you are allowing your “first impression” biases to drive your hiring decisions.
This causes you to hire one of two types of people.
1. The competent (as defined on their resume) but not necessarily motivated.
or
2. The competent in one but not all areas. (you gut tells you one strength means all strength)
Unfortunately these hiring assumptions are flawed. Either of these selections will lead to job needs not matching performance outcomes. Force yourself to separate first impressions and smooth presentations from actual competence and major accomplishments.
Hiring with your gut … is a risky gamble.
Coach Kathleen
First impressions are great, but what will you do for an encore after you’ve made a good first impression?
Consider your voice as a tool in your tool chest. Your voice can covey warmth, sincerity and enthusiasm. Your voice can also signal an interviewer or other business associate if your answers sound “canned” or over rehearsed.
What message is your voice sending? Listen to your inner … and outer voice.
Coach Kathleen
When entering an office, especially for an interview or other high stakes meeting, always remember to wait to be invited to sit down. Don’t just plop yourself in the first available chair.
“Ploppers” create an impression … quite different from the people who leave a positive impression.
Coach Kathleen
Relationships are a key ingredient in the business world and it is important to maintain and grow them to ensure your business will succeed. It is however, far more important to explore the culture of your organization to determine if your colleagues and teams understand how respect plays into the overall interpersonal skill of relationship management.
If you notice disrespect to a colleague or co worker you are obligated to advocate for the person who is being disrespected, even if they are not in the room! Illuminating unprofessional behavior and defining what you expect in your company will help build a culture of professionalism.
As a leader you authorize … what you tolerate.
Coach Kathleen