January 2007

 



Dear Mark

Welcome to the first issue of Positive Energy for 2007!

January is traditionally a time for reflection and for resolutions, so this month we’re going to encourage you to kick-start the New Year with a positive new image. We’ll look at how you currently present yourself and explore how you can create a more powerful impression. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to achieve your goals when you have the added WOW factor!

I hope this newsletter is helpful to you. Please do send me your comments and success stories. Click here to email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,



 
 

The Positive Part – How Do You Create the Right Impression?

“A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our world; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed.” 

Earl Nightingale

We all know how important first impressions are. But, although you may say all the right things, research shows that we form impressions based on what we see rather than what we hear. Therefore you must create the right visual impact, be it at home or at work. This is not just about the clothes that you wear, it’s about grooming, behaviour, body language and even the impression given by the appearance of your work space.

Statistics show that performance at work only contributes a measly 10% towards recognition or promotion, whereas 30% is based on your image and a whopping 60% is based on exposure. Don’t panic, I’m not suggesting a strip tease in the office every Monday morning. Exposure means giving greater visibility to what you stand for, what you do and what you want.

Many of us often feel overlooked. Do you ever feel taken for granted at home? Perhaps you feel stuck in a rut at work, but are never given the opportunity to develop your role?

If you want extra responsibility at work, or a promotion or more training, then you have to demonstrate constantly what it is you want.

Isn’t it time you created the right impression?


 

Positive Practice

Creating the right impression is about putting the best you forward so that people have a clear picture of who you are and what you’re capable of. Try the exercise below. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make a more positive impression and how quickly it will help improve your situation.

  • Step one – Think about the situations in your life where you feel overlooked. Once you get started you’ll be surprised at how many situations you’d like to change.

  • Step two – Consider who else influences these situations and what is important to them.  For example, if you’re looking for recognition or promotion at work, then write down the qualities and qualifications that your boss values. If you feel overlooked by friends, consider what it is they need from you.

  • Step three - Consider the impression you give at the moment, and how you can present yourself differently. If your boss values training, then identify the skills you’re lacking and ask for some training in those areas. If you aren’t invited out with friends, then perhaps you give the impression you’re always too busy? How can you show them what you actually want?

Make it your resolution to get what you want out of 2007. Start today by taking time to complete the exercise above. You’ll be amazed at how your confidence will grow and how quickly it will make a difference!


  

What Can You Do?

Jenny Toole from Reading looked too young.

Jenny was getting on very well in her work in operations management. She had been promoted twice, but wasn’t making it through to the next level of management.  A chance remark from a colleague made her think harder about her image. Her colleague said that she looked so young that no one believed that she had the authority she needed for the next step.

Jenny asked several of her friends and close colleagues about this and most agreed that she looked young for her age. She also studied the style and behaviour of the women at the next level. She noticed that many of them didn’t join in with the “dress-down Friday” and that they always introduced themselves with firm handshakes, just saying their name when they met anyone new, at whatever level in the company.

Jenny slowly changed the way that she dressed and found that she felt more confident. As a result the way she acted altered.  Six months later she hadn’t been promoted, but had been head-hunted for a new role in the USA.

Where Can You Get More Help?

You can buy any of these books today by clicking on their titles.

Walking Tall by Lesley Everett. This is a step by step introduction to help you look at the image that you are creating and how that relates to your personal brand.

Branding Yourself by Mary Spillane. How to look, sound and behave your way to success.

The Personal Branding Phenomenon by Peter Montoya. Practical advice that will enable you to take control and build your own brand. Includes analysis of personal brands such as Madonna, Mother Teresa and Oprah Winfrey

Deborah Gray is an Image Consultant. Visit her website to download personalised style advice related to your body shape. Also two free e-books. Fascinating stuff – I never knew that there were so many different types of collar!

Click here to download a free work sheet from the Milecastle website that will help you create the best possible impression.

What’s Available?

  • We have five £20 Amazon vouchers to give away just for hearing your stories! We are working with Fresh Steps, a new development course for older workers and we want to collect stories about significant achievements amongst this group. Do you know someone who started a new career late in life or had a major achievement in their home life? Maybe she had a great success in something that she didn’t start learning until she was was older? Or perhaps she went back into full time education or training after her children had left home? We’d like to hear from them and if we use their story for our programme they will get a £20 voucher to spend at Amazon.

  • Would you like to experience the power that our personal development programmes can bring to your organisation? We are pleased to be able to offer you a taster programme of up to half a day for 20 key staff, so that you can experience the benefits for yourself.

Many people are unsure what personal development actually entails and are nervous about committing precious training budgets when there are priorities for management training or other skills requirements. Phone or email us today to organise your Springboard or Spring Forward Taster event.

  • Are you running a conference this spring and need an additional session to motivate staff or build their confidence? We can run interactive sessions designed to send your people away with a fresh outlook and a spring in their step. Email or call us today to put confidence building on your conference programme.

In next month’s issue of Positive Energy we’ll put your new positive image into practical use when we look at promoting yourself in job applications and CVs.

 
 
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 01697 747 821  Email: sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk  Website: www.milecastle.co.uk
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd, 1 Rose Cottages, Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 7AP		  

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