Getting Noticed: Easy Ways to Improve Your Professional Image

Projecting a good professional image is an excellent way to get noticed by the ‘big wigs’ in your company and beyond. Putting your hat in the ring when it comes to promotions, headhunting and progressing your professional career. 

Looking The Part

It’s no secret that the first thing potential employers and your boss see is your appearance, so making the right impression is paramount to maintaining and projecting a good professional image. 

So, how can you improve your professional image?

Things as simple as a fresh haircut shows that you care about your appearance and what others think of you. So trying to project an image that is cool, calm and collected is very desirable for business owners and managers. So we’re not saying having a fresh haircut every week is essential, but waking up 10 minutes earlier to style your hair and pick out a fresh shirt may pay dividends in the long run. 

And it isn’t just your appearance. What car you drive , how you drive it into and around your place of work and how well it’s maintained says a lot about an individual to their employer. So taking your car to a car wash before an interview isn’t the worst idea. Neither is slowing down when on your daily commute; you never know who may be following you into work!

Make Sure You’re Online – In The Right Way!

Everyone is online in the 21st century, right? But being online in the right way is a different story altogether. Your boss seeing an image of you sloshed at 4 am on a ‘school night’ won’t help your chances of promotion, neither would a potential employer be over the moon to see you moaning about your Job at 3 pm on a Thursday. That being said, employers and managers alike prefer people with character and charisma, so posting about your hobbies, interests and family life in a PG fashion is desirable. It is important to mention that keeping yourself to yourself on social media, much like you would in the office, is a great way to make sure you’re not hindering your career progression opportunities. 

Linked In is an ideal place not only to let people know about what you do and your personal achievements. It’s also a place to recognise your colleagues and their successes. A selfless worker who acknowledges others achievements, as well as their own, is much more likely to be picked for a more senior or managerial role. 

Be Available

Putting your work first and going the extra mile outside of your working hours can pay big dividends in how people see you in the workplace. But being available doesn’t just mean going the extra mile outside of working hours; you can make yourself more available to others by doing something as simple as leaving your office door open. Or offering to help others with tasks should you have the time to give. This all makes you more approachable and easier to work with. Find the correct balance between your free time and the time you can lend a hand; you don’t want to be burning the candle from both ends!

Keeping a structured schedule or diary really helps to manage your time. Online tools such as outlook calendar and google calendar can aid in getting the most out of your time. And it sets up good habits and routines.

Network 

Talking with people in your business and industry is a powerful way to make a name for yourself. It shows you care about what you do and understand what others do. Attending business networking events and contributing to meetings in a relevant context will only build up your credibility within the workplace and beyond. The key to networking is that it should be beneficial for both parties. If you’re looking to build relationships whereby you want something of the opposing person but have nothing to offer them, they’re likely not going to be interested. When networking outside of your business, it’s good practice to introduce yourself, where you work and your job title, and invite others to do the same. 

When communicating internally, it’s good etiquette to treat everyone in the same manner, whether speaking with the cleaner or the managing director. A certain amount of respect and decorum is standard throughout the communication.

Mental Attitude

Having a positive mental attitude towards work doesn’t just help your mental wellbeing, but it also projects outwards. Showing others that you are confident, approachable and outgoing are other significant benefits.  Knowing your skillset and being satisfied with what you can deliver using those skills is one of the most critical aspects of building a positive mental attitude at work. 

There are specific techniques to help adopt a positive mental attitude is to avoid getting caught up in gossip and don’t assume anything. If somebody is negative in the workplace, don’t be afraid to ask questions politely and considerately. 

Sometimes it can be as simple as saying yes, offering yourself out to more jobs and helping colleagues (much like being more available). Helping others is often more mentally rewarding than keeping yourself to yourself.

Body Language 

As mentioned previously, people make presumptions on how you dress, and they equally make assumptions about how you act. Someone who maintains good eye contact, posture and smiles is a great asset to a workplace. But, how do you go about improving your body language? 

A classic technique is improving your body language subtly mirroring the person you are talking to; this makes them feel more comfortable with you and vice versa. Vital that you don’t make your mirroring actions too obvious or deliberate. This could come across as if you are mocking or trying too hard to imitate the opposing person. Another essential bit of body language to have when communicating in a business setting is eye contact. Making sure you’re addressing the person you are talking to engagingly and not gormlessly staring into space or staring at your shoelaces. One helpful rule to try and adopt is the 50/70 rule. Trying and maintain direct eye contact 50% of the time when you are talking and 70% of the time when you are listening.