Sharpen your image and presence as they define your professionalism

Image is the representation of the external form of a person or thing. Now this could be in art or photography and is usually about outward presentation.

Considering the unlimited nature of your possibilities as a professional, limiting that only to your outer shell does you injustice to no end. 

The importance of your career is not one to be taken lightly. When it comes to your professional outlook, you want to insist that it be understood with a greater sense of respect. 

It is for this reason that I am going to phrase it differently.  Presence. Definition; your impressive manner and appearance as a professional executive. 

The authority and respect you command is a subject of conversation whether or not you are a participant. It spans from the choices of colours, fabrics and textures of your apparel to the state of your teeth weaving through to what you say, how you say it, how you hold your folk and chew your food all the way to how you communicate on email.

Your demeanour in the office, which glass you pour your wine into the comments you make on social media, and everything in-between. If your presence is to become nothing short of executive, we have lots of work to do.

There is an acceptable code of conduct based on restraint, respect and responsibility. This is about appreciating and embracing the need to do certain things not because it is expected or you are asked to or paid to, or someone is watching but because it is right.

When working with clients to establish their executive presence, etiquette turns out to be an intriguing aspect of our engagement. You see; it is not enough to be academically qualified, experienced, well-dressed and able to communicate coherently.

Anyone can have and be all that. It is the soft side of the experience of being with you in a personal and professional engagement that helps others take in the wholesomeness of the professional that you are.

Experiencing you as a professional of the executive cadre can only be distinct if your manner is a delicate weave of the old, familiar and endearing rules of conduct combined with the expectations, considerations and the dynamism of our world today. 

Courteous and respectful

Your manners come into focus here.  How courteous and respectful are you? Is this a part of you that comes across as a standard or is it just the combination of hats you throw on and pull off when in and out of public scrutiny?

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out false from genuine, you know. Manners are your arsenal of well-bred social behaviour. Make no mistake on this; your office environment is your biggest social stage on which you act for the longest time. How do you act?

While you ponder over that, you want to appreciate that there is a code of polite conduct all around you — your colleagues, professional contemporaries in other organisations and your social networks.

In many instances, it is polite to conduct yourself in ways that are prescribed and you are free to top them up with new ones for that touch of individuality.

Can you be said to observe etiquette? While etiquette may vary based on culture and upbringing, it is a global village we live in
It is required of us to observe the universally accepted tenets of social and professional conduct.

Polite behaviour is determined by your society; knock on doors, hold them open so the person behind you does not knock his or her head on it as it swings back, for example. This may seem to be common sense that everyone should have.

Well, sense as you already have unfortunately experienced, is not common. I am yet to find a solution on that for grown-ups — I undertake to revert back to you when I do but I would not suggest you hold your breathe for it.

Polite behaviour is even less common but you can learn and embrace it. You want others in your space to feel your respect and consideration for them.

This means that restraint even when it is most trying becomes your natural response in any situation. You can label this as manners, etiquette, civility and a plethora of other words you wish provided you understand that it makes up a large part of your professional presence.

That means that it is imperative that you endeavour to make every interaction with you one that leaves everyone with the impression you would like them to have of you.

Seraphine is an expert on attitude and human potential. [email protected]