Men’s Self Image: How to Project Confidence by Understanding Your Personal Brand
21st August 2012Coni’s new book now on sale
21st August 2012Men's Image and Personal Branding: How to appear confident in interviews
We all have days when we need a boost! What do you do when you need to project confidence, but don’t feel confident inside?
Using personal style symbols to your advantage
First step for men is to use ‘semiotics’ – the symbols that we all use to interpret and judge others – to your advantage.
My client Brian had failed 5 graduate university interviews, despite having great grades, and couldn’t understand why. In our first meeting I instantly figured out he was sending the wrong personal branding signals: weak, submissive, apathetic.
He needed to present a different personal brand: capable, confident and dedicated to convince the interviewers to give him a coveted spot in their school.
Use clothing and accessories to appear powerful
The easiest, fastest way to change his first impression for the university interviewers was to tackle the semiotics, starting with his clothes. To project power I gave him his new university interview uniform: dark suit, white shirt, bright tie in a colour that draws attention to the eyes and projects power. Next, shoes. Classic black dress shoes, nothing over the top, shined and immaculate. Last, accessories. For men, the pen, watch, phone, briefcase are the target areas. For women, think about your shoes, handbag, jewelry and hair – are you projecting competence and confidence?
We turned up the amplifier in this area big time for Brian – heavy watch, bold pen, nice leather portfolio and kept the phone out of sight. The result: two offers from great universities!
Coni’s Personal Image Consultation Homework:
Look at your accessories – what story do they tell others about you? Do they represent the personal branding values you want others to see? What can you change today to make a difference?
Using personal style symbols to your advantage
First step for men is to use ‘semiotics’ – the symbols that we all use to interpret and judge others – to your advantage.
My client Brian had failed 5 graduate university interviews, despite having great grades, and couldn’t understand why. In our first meeting I instantly figured out he was sending the wrong personal branding signals: weak, submissive, apathetic.
He needed to present a different personal brand: capable, confident and dedicated to convince the interviewers to give him a coveted spot in their school.
Use clothing and accessories to appear powerful
The easiest, fastest way to change his first impression for the university interviewers was to tackle the semiotics, starting with his clothes. To project power I gave him his new university interview uniform: dark suit, white shirt, bright tie in a colour that draws attention to the eyes and projects power. Next, shoes. Classic black dress shoes, nothing over the top, shined and immaculate. Last, accessories. For men, the pen, watch, phone, briefcase are the target areas. For women, think about your shoes, handbag, jewelry and hair – are you projecting competence and confidence?
We turned up the amplifier in this area big time for Brian – heavy watch, bold pen, nice leather portfolio and kept the phone out of sight. The result: two offers from great universities!
Coni’s Personal Image Consultation Homework:
Look at your accessories – what story do they tell others about you? Do they represent the personal branding values you want others to see? What can you change today to make a difference?
