The Critical First Years of Your Professional Life by Dilenschneider Robert L.; Genova Mary Jane

Author:Dilenschneider, Robert L.; Genova, Mary Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

WHAT IS IMAGE?

Your image is the bundle of signals you give off. Your image includes just about everything: your clothes, your manners and your mannerisms, the music you listen to, the cell phone you use, the movies you see, the language you use, the suggestions you make at meetings.

Your image works effectively only if it’s integrated. For example, suppose you wear conservative suits and are meticulous in your work but overly gregarious and sloppy in your personal manner. That discontinuity would confuse people. In managing your image, you don’t want your appearance to say one thing and your behavior to say another.

Also, there shouldn’t be major incongruities between what your image is inside the office and what your image is in the community. That will also confuse people. They may even think that you are unstable.

You might say that your image is a shorthand way of telling the world what you’re about. Conan O’Brien’s image says: “I’m a nice guy—and also pretty funny.”

Bill Clinton’s image says: “Like me.” Actress Lindsay Lohan’s image says: “I’ve been through the wringer.”

What is your image saying? Maybe you should ask a friend about this.

And, as Roger Ailes, President of Fox News and media adviser to US presidents and to corporate CEOs, always stresses: folks make up their mind about your image almost instantly.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gone into CEOs’ offices knowing I have a very brief time to make my pitch—and my impression. Those CEOs don’t see “Bob Dilenschneider, good citizen and entrepreneur.” As I’m sitting there making my pitch, they see “a management consultant who can or cannot help me.” If the CEOs decide that I can’t help them, they make that decision fast—and have been known to bid me “good day” and walk out of the room! Somehow, my image didn’t communicate “can be of use to you,” and there’s nothing I can do to change that impression or pry loose that piece of business. It’s primarily my image that gets, or doesn’t get, me new business. Fortunately, most times my image communicates to clients: “Yes, I’m the one to help you.”

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