Dress for success!

Every day we make the decision what to wear, for some its a subconscious choice but for others choosing what to wear is a well thought out process. What factors do we take into consideration when dressing? is it that you have a business meeting, you are on the early morning school run or is it a first date. When you go for meetings – especially interviews - first impressions are made within seconds, so it is vital that you get it right!

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Take a look at what you are wearing now (that’s if you are dressed of course)

What colour says about you

Black is the colour of authority and power.  If black is your favorite colour you might be telling the world you see things as “black or white”, “right or wrong”, “your way or no way”.

White symbolizes innocence and purity reflecting light.  It is light, neutral, and goes with everything.  The right amount of white says you’re open to suggestion.  Too much… well, would you ask someone wearing a white suit to help you change a flat tire or lend a hand digging a hole?

Red is the most emotional colour.  It makes your heart beat and breathing faster.  It is the colour of passion.  Red clothing gets noticed.  It is an extreme colour and is a risk to wear in presentations, negotiations or confrontations unless what you’re wearing is the only thing you want them to remember- accept as an accent.

Pastel Pink has a tranquilizing effect. Too much pink and your audience could lose energy and focus.  They might just forget you.

Hot Pink… you might as well wear red.

Blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Blue is peaceful and tranquil like the sky on a clear day, or a calm ocean.  Experts advise wearing blue to job interviews symbolizing loyalty.

Green symbolizes nature. It is a calming, refreshing colour. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth.  Be careful wearing green.  The way the color reflects off your face can make you look ill.

Yellow is an attention getter. Even though it’s considered an optimistic colour, studies show that people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms.  Tough for the eye to take in, yellow enhances concentration-  think highlighter.

Purple says luxury, wealth, and sophistication. But, it can appear artificial, too. Wear too much purple and your prospect might be thinking about ‘how much this is going to cost me’ instead of the value you are delivering.  It is best used as an accent.

Brown is the colour of earth, solid and reliable.  Light brown says you are genuine and dark brown conveys a strong and dependable feeling to the observer.

Charcoal Grey is serious, solid and dependable.  It bridges the gap between black and blue implying authority, power while not being overpowering.  Wear a white shirt to be taken more seriously, a light blue shirt to enhance that sense of loyalty.

Sourced from precisionintermedia.com

I can only assume you are now sitting or even standing analysing what colours you are wearing…

Here at TOK headquarters we have been discussing rituals that we do before meetings with schools and businesses.  Sarah Lou who is our Business Development Executive in Education uses her hands to talk so her nails must be imaculate and well polished. Do you have a ritual?

 

So how confident do you seem to others?

Your level of self-confidence can show in many ways: your  behaviour, your body language, how you speak, what you say, and so on. Look at  the following comparisons of common confident behaviour with behaviour associated  with low self-confidence. Which thoughts or actions do you see in yourself  and people around you?

Self-Confident	Low Self-Confidence
Doing   what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize   you for it.	Governing  your behavior based on what other people think.
Being willing to take risks and go the extra mile to achieve better things.	Staying in your comfort zone, fearing failure and so avoid taking risks.
Admitting your mistakes, and learning from them.	Working hard to cover up mistakes and hoping that you can fix the problem before anyone notices.
Waiting for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments.	Extolling your own virtues as often as possible to as many people as possible.
Accepting compliments graciously. “Thanks, I really worked hard on that prospectus. I’m pleased you recognize my efforts.”	Dismissing compliments offhandedly. “Oh that prospectus was nothing   really, anyone could have done it.”

Sourced from mindtools.com

As you can see from these examples, low self-confidence can be self-destructive, and it often manifests itself as negativity. Self-confident people are generally more positive – they believe in themselves and their abilities, and they also believe in living life to the full. We are in an ever changing world, so make your mark and be confident in what it is you do and what it is you believe in.

Only you have the power to do so, grab the opportunities with both hands and of course keep your finger nails short so you don’t become destructive to others!

Be true to who you are and celebrate that, be confident set yourself up for success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incoming search terms:

• brain and creativity