What To Wear When....

As a new leader it is so exciting to be heading off to your first major conference.  You will be interacting with other leaders in your industry from all over the world! You are bound to be a bit nervous though also looking forward to making connections. And of course you definitely want to make a good first impression. 

If you have worked with me you know the next question is, “What are you going to wear?” Most of my clients, the men AND the women, say they haven’t even thought about it or shrug and suggest ‘something comfortable’. At this point the conversation turns to their personal brand and getting a clear understanding of how they want to present themselves as a leader to everyone they are going to meet.

Many organizations have a relaxed dress code. People in your office may know you are the boss, however people outside your office walls do not. It’s a good idea to dress in a way that demonstrates that you are the boss. Despite what you think, people will formulate an opinion just based on the way you dress. 

It may seem superficial but think about it; your outfit is the first thing people notice. If you have been thoughtful enough to dress professionally, people make the assumption that you care, you pay attention to details and you make an effort. This leads to other things they believe you will take the time to do well. It is never just about the clothes. It’s what your clothes represent!!

WARNING - Leave the jeans at home!    

BTW - clients have actually emailed me from the conference to thank me for the conversation. They had no idea that the people from the offices in Europe dressed in a suit and tie everyday. They admit that they would have been embarrassed if they attended without giving it some thought.

Remember…

Stand Out in a good way! To do so, be thoughtful of the brand impression you want to create in all situations. You can always take off the tie or jacket but you can’t add a pin stripe to your jeans! 

Don’t assume that because your office is casual that everyone around the world has the same standards. Basketball players wear shorts and jerseys on the court but when they travel it’s mandatory to wear a suit and tie to represent their level of professionalism!

Details matter! How you do one thing reflects upon how you do everything.  

Your brand is your brand in every situation. Every time you are in front of another person you have an opportunity to leave an imprint of who you are. Represent yourself wisely!

I’d love to hear your stories on how you got it right and maybe where you slipped up as it does start the conversation in learning.

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Dorothy Lazovik is President of Authentic Leader’s Edge. She is a Personal Brand Strategist, trainer, speaker and coach. If you are interested in learning more go to: www.authenticleadersedge.com.

Use The Mirror

The mirror is a powerful tool! I know, you typically think about using the mirror to fix yourself up or check yourself out. Though you can also use the mirror to build your self-esteem and confidence.

I work with women who have experienced violence and witnessed, over the past nine years, amazing transformations when using the mirror as a tool. (Psst, it works with clients too.) The process I take them through is:

• Write a list of fifteen qualities and characteristics they love about themselves. 

• Stand in front of the mirror either first thing in the morning or last thing at night before they go to bed.

• Look yourself in the eyes and repeat your qualities and characteristics in the present. “I am….” 

• Continue to look at yourself, take it in and breathe. 

The women report that at first it is challenging and feels silly. Sometimes they laugh and sometimes they cry. Then they get past that and find themselves repeating these words when they are on the bus or walking to get their kids from school. It lifts their spirits and shifts their energy. This creates a powerful transformation that has a positive domino effect in all areas of their lives. 

Want to boost your confidence? Need to get better at accepting praise for a job well done? Want to be more self-assured when presenting to a group? 

I have used this technique myself to practice gracefully saying thank you when someone pays me a compliment. I use to find it difficult to accept a compliment. I would look away, dismiss it or blush! Now I maintain eye contact and have no problem accepting praise. 

I have also used the mirror technique when practicing speeches. In the book The Magic of Believing (originally published in 1948), the author, Claude M. Bristol, shares that Winston Churchill never gave an important speech before delivering it to a mirror first.

Discover what you would like to feel more confident about, use the mirror technique and share your results. If you have another confidence boosting method I would love for you to share that too!

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Dorothy Lazovik is President of Authentic Leader’s Edge. She is a Personal Brand Strategist, Trainer, Speaker and Executive Coach. If you are interested in learning more go to: www.authenticleadersedge.com.