 |
|
Ask the Image Expert Sherry Maysonave is the founder and president of Empowerment Enterprises, one of America's leading communication-image firms. Sherry conducts corporate seminars and coaches executives, professionals, and politicians in achieving excellence in communication and image. She is also the author of Casual Power: How to Power Up your Nonverbal Communication and Dress Down for Success
Gaining respect, clients through imageQuestion: Sherry,I'm an attorney with an out of state client that I have never met in person. I am scheduled to fly up to meet them in 2 weeks and was asked to give a talk on our state's law (could that be more broad?). I am 100lbs soaking wet, 5'2", and have been told I look attractive when I make an effort but look young for my age. I have unusual features (long angular face, nice cheekbones, long nose, close set eyes, prominent chin) and it has taken me years to work with what I have to make it work for me. In the past when I have told hairdressers to go for it and make me look professional, I have regretted it. I have a real opportunity to seal this relationship and win over new clients at this luncheon/speech or lose their future business. Also, I have heard that it is harder for a woman to win over another woman's business because they can be threatened by an attractive woman and that women are harder on other women than they are on men. What suggestions can you offer regarding clothing, hair, etc.? Elaine Answer: First, you have my sympathy for having to prepare a talk on such a broad subject! Regarding your image, let’s start with some basic principles that are important to dressing for presentations. 1. Wear a suit. Check on the attitudes of the group (consider the geographical region) to decide about wearing a pantsuit or a skirted suit. If they are conservative, wear a skirted suit with hosiery and pumps. At the minimum, a tailored jacket is essential. A pantsuit will make you look taller, which is always a good thing for a speaker. If you wear a pantsuit, you still wear hosiery and closed toe/closed heel shoes. Should you wear a skirt, be sure to blend your hosiery color to your shoe and the skirt color to create a vertical effect, which will also make you appear taller. For example, if you wear a black suit, wear black (a sheer black for summer) hosiery with black shoes. To add some shine and to lighten the look for summer, consider black patent shoes or leather pumps with a patent toe. Do not make the mistake of wearing a black suit with white or nude stockings with black shoes. If so, that places the emphasis upon your legs, making you appear shorter. Black shoes and a black skirt worn with white or beige hosiery will make you appear little girlish, especially considering your small stature. On the other hand, if you wear a bright color or rich color, such as red, choose skin-tone hosiery and daytime metallic shoes (not ultra shiny, matte metallic in a gold, pewter, or bronze tone) or sheer black hosiery with black shoes. Don’t wear red shoes. 2. Be sure to select a suit in a solid color. It is essential that a speaker looks appealing and attractive to draw the attention of the audience, but her/his image should not be distracting. Printed fabrics are a distraction. Solid red or another bright, rich color such as royal blue is an excellent suit color for women speakers. Otherwise, stick with your best power-neutral, black, navy, dark gray, or dark brown. 3. Style your hair; wear makeup, accessorize appropriately -- create a put together, altogether professional look. Your features sound quite beautiful. It does not take a lot of makeup to look like you are wearing makeup. Remember, women who wear tastefully applied makeup are considered more professional and they earn 20 to 30 per cent higher incomes than those who do not. You did not mention the length of your hair. Ultra long hair will make you appear younger and shorter (at your height). If it is many inches below shoulder length, pull it back or put it up. Avoid updo’s that require the banana clip or messy styles appropriate for the bedroom or the running track. Business speakers should avoid all hair accessories. It’s true; the sisterhood has some problems. I find other woman extremely supportive, but I encounter those who do not. It is my experience that a woman runs into trouble with other women if she dresses provocatively, ultra trendy or extremely outdated, or somehow inappropriate for the business arena. With that in mind, avoid these eleven looks for any business setting, especially when you are speaking:
The other important aspect to consider is your voice and the use of the microphone. If you must use a hand held microphone versus the clip-on style, place it close enough to your mouth for it to do its job. That means that you are almost kissing it! Lean into it; love that microphone and your voice will project strong and clear. It’s terribly hard on an audience when they cannot hear you. Many speakers do not use the microphone appropriately and then they lose credibility as an expert. Great things come in small packages. Some of the most dynamic speakers I know are small in stature. Remember to smile and act as if you are enjoying your talk and the audience will enjoy it more too. Best of luck to you, Sherry Maysonave
Best of luck to you,
Also see:
|
|
|