Diva tips to ramp up your professional poise!
Career Coach • Author • Speaker
Ramp Up Your Self Confidence
March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
One of the biggest hurdles I see with job seekers and even many employed professionals is that they lack self confidence. While some people have abundant self confidence in their genes, others need to cultivate it and this all starts with positive self affirmation.
It’s easy to criticize and beat yourself up for your weaknesses but the reality is you are not broken and you deserve to focus on what you do well. There are enough negative people in the world that will focus on what you need to improve upon so give yourself a break and focus on what you do really well.
If you believe you are good enough – you will be! The bottom line is that you are not perfect and you need to get used to it. If you focus your energies on playing to your strengths you can let go of your inner judge and relax into your natural talents.
Once you give yourself permission to recognize and play to your strengths, don’t be afraid to tout your accomplishments. You deserve the accolades that you have earned. It’s really important in a job interview or a performance evaluation to be able to articulate what you do really well.
Do yourself a favor and keep a log for an entire week of all the things you do really well from the personal to the professional and look back and reflect upon what makes you great. The list may astound you because you spend so much time focusing on the weakness that you rarely give yourself a pat on the back for what you do well.
I read an article from Pick the Brain – Grow Yourself online that suggested these wonderful ways to ramp up your self confidence. Perception is reality — the more self confidence you have, the more likely it is you’ll succeed.
1. Dress Sharp
Although clothes don’t make the woman, they certainly affect the way she feels about herself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance.
2. Good Posture
The way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.
3. Personal Commercial
Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud whenever you need a confidence boost.
4. Gratitude
When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for.
5. Compliment other people
When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people.
6. Speak up
During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.
You Can Tell A Lot By A Person’s Shoes
May 24, 2010 By 4 Comments
From the time I was a young girl I can remember my father polishing his shoes every night so they would be shiny and clean for his next work day. My father worked in the New York City corporate jungle of starched shirts and tailored suits. He always looked liked a consummate professional and taught me that first impressions are lasting.
Over the years in my experience with employer relations and collegiate recruiting, I have been exposed to a myriad of work environments across the nation. Some sectors, like big law and corporate business, still honor the suit and high polished shoes for men and women. Others are more casual and have adopted a trendier environment that values the current fashion trends. It’s your responsibility to blend into the culture and wardrobe expectations of your respective place of work. You want to distinguish yourself by your accomplishments – not your clothing!
Learn a valuable lesson from my Dad – your shoes tell a lot about how other people perceive you. Are they scuffed with run down soles or polished and neat? Women have a unique challenge about whether or not to wear heels on the job. I must be distantly related to Imelda Marcos because I love shoes. But, I have discovered that I also need to be mobile and comfortable to be successful in my job environment. I save my super high heels for after work occasions and wear stylish but walk-able shoes to work.
I have seen many women tottering in stilettos en route to a job interview. What happens when your future boss asks you to take a tour of the company and your face long distance walking in those wicked high heels! Bottom line, be prepared for any occasion and plan appropriately. You want to be steady on your feet so better to wear a lower heel for the interview.
I’m happy to report that the shoe gods are shining on women today because there are many brands that have married comfort with style. I have found some professional and attractive heels that pass the 10 hour on-my-feet test in these brands: Sofft, Clarks, Cole Haan and Liz Claiborne, and I know there are many more. In fact, Jessica and Emily Leung, founders of Hey Lady, Shoes! have designed ergonomic wedding and special occasion heels that are truly gorgeous. Check out their career transition piece archived on the stories tab. Regardless of the brand, make sure your shoes are neat, polished, and well fitted. This will save your posture, your back, and your professional reputation. Put your best foot forward and think wisely about choosing the right shoes for your work environment.
Professional Poise Can Distinguish You
March 8, 2010 By 11 Comments
As an opera singer I know from experience that stage presence speaks volumes about how you are perceived. The audience forms an impression of you before you even open your mouth and the same rings true in the world of work. You have control over the way you carry and comport yourself and these traits can help you own your self confidence.
Here are some quick strategies to ramp up your professional poise:
- Stand tall and use good posture when sitting in a board meeting, making a presentation or even grabbing coffee in the company break room. Good posture is healthy, conveys confidence and can make you look 5 pounds thinner.
- Analyze your speaking voice. Be sure to speak slowly, clearly, and keep your volume constant throughout your statements. Use proper grammar and work towards eliminating filler phrases such as: like, um and you know.
- Dress the part. Take stock of your professional wardrobe and make sure you are neatly groomed and wearing clothing that reflects the culture (and decade!) of your work environment. Ill fitting and sloppy clothing sends an immediate negative message to your clients and colleagues.
- Have a positive attitude and avoid work place gossip and politics. Positivity is infectious and can impact how you perform on the job. Pay-it-forward with an upbeat mindset and watch your colleagues follow suit.
- Be mindful of the rules of etiquette whether you are hosting a client for a business lunch or a guest at your boss’s holiday party. Retool your etiquette know-how so you can be comfortable eating and socializing in a professional environment.
