Image: How to project the right work image

The way we look has a major impact on the impression people form of us. Research indicates that within the first moments of meeting, an individual can form up to 30 distinct opinions about you. But there's more to successfully projecting the right image at work than appearance alone. You also need to demonstrate the appropriate attitudes and behaviours. No matter what stage of your career you're at, there's always room to polish and hone them.

Where do I start?

Give some thought to the overall image you want to project. Think of previous occasions where you failed to convey the desired impression and evaluate where things went awry. Could you have made your point more clearly, did you adopt the wrong tone of voice or neglect to make eye contact? Work out what you need to do to communicate more effectively and what you want people to think about you.

Look the part

What you wear can have a negative effect on your career. "Assumptions based on image are deep-seated, and projection of an inappropriate image can take time to correct," says Penny Chester, managing consultant, career consultancy, RightCoutts.

Learn what is appropriate for your working environment and dress accordingly. When visiting a new company, find out the dress code prior to your meeting. Your goal should be to blend in, not stand out. Appear well groomed - even if the dress code is casual. Avoid loud or garish clothing and outrageous hairstyles. Should you have any doubts about what to wear, be inclined towards a more formal look.

Reliability is the key

Take responsibility for your actions. If you say you'll do something, do it. Don't oversell what you can achieve - it's far better to under-promise and over-deliver.

Only take credit where it's due and acknowledge when you've slipped up. Stay on at work when necessary to complete projects on deadline.

Mind your manners

As a manager, you'll have to deal with your fair share of crises, but never let it be known that you're having a bad day. Keep a cool head - flying off the handle is strictly off limits and it won't do your credibility any good. Never take advantage of or abuse your position of power, as you'll quickly lose respect.

Treat colleagues and managers with respect at all times. Exercise discretion and tact and maintain employer confidentiality. Shun office gossip and avoid discussing disputes or other contentious issues with colleagues.

Maintain your respectability

Whether it's an office party or leaving do, remember it's a work function so you need to act in a suitable manner. Keep in mind that they're your workmates, not close personal friends so drink alcohol in moderation. Don't be tempted to make frank confessions, wear your heart on your sleeve or get up to high jinks - you don't want your antics to become the subject of water cooler gossip.

Leave on good terms

Even when you're moving on, it's vital that you don't undermine all your previous efforts by letting work standards slip and badmouthing the company or your manager. Create a lasting good impression by completing unfinished work, compiling handover notes and assisting your manager with the transfer of your duties.

Where can I get more info?

Books

Branding Yourself: How to Look, Sound and Behave Your Way to Success, Mary Spillane, Pan, £12.99, ISBN 0330481487

Walking Tall: Key Steps to Total Image Impact, Lesley Everett, McGraw-Hill Education, £10.99, ISBN 0077099672

Bodytalk at Work: How to Use Effective Body Language to Boost Your Career, Judi James, Piatkus Books, £9.99, ISBN 0749922583

Your Executive Image, Victoria Seitz, Adams Media Corporation, £6.50, ISBN 1580621783

Websites

RightCoutts www.rightcoutts.co.uk

Association of Career Professionals International www.iacmp.org

If you only do five things...

- Understand business etiquette

- Manage your appearance and wardrobe

- Take responsibility for your actions

- Don't lose your cool

- Exercise discretion, tact and diplomacy

Expert’s view: Penny Chester on projecting the right image at work

Penny Chester is managing consultant at career consultancy RightCoutts and UK president of the Association of Career Professionals International.

What key advice would you offer to someone looking to refine their impact?

You have to present ideas persuasively and with confidence. Also, to understand how the organisation you work for 'does things' - this comes about through spending more time listening and learning from others than holding centre stage.

Looking the part is essential. Always dress for the job above you.

Obtaining impartial advice is also useful, ideally from an experienced external mentor or coach who is not subject to internal politics. Many professionals still find it difficult to give effective and meaningful presentations. Time spent learning the mechanics of this will always be worthwhile.

What are the most challenging aspects of knowing how to act and react at work?

Understanding why relationships are important, discovering what type of behaviour is likely to create problems and looking at a set of principles and values to work by present the greatest challenges. So a working knowledge of these is crucial.

A big problem - especially for those new to an organisation - is being clear about the way things are done. For example, is dressing down on certain days part of the culture? It may not always be explicit, and you need to be sensitive to the unspoken clues around you.

Another key challenge is being able to cope when things don't work as you had hoped. Understanding how to react to difficulties, such as a meeting which just didn't work, can restore personal confidence and bestow respect from others in terms of your ability to learn from these types of difficult situation.

What should be avoided?

Attempts to boost personal image through name dropping and boasting often backfire. At best, these can be seen as arrogant, and at worst, ignorant. The common traits of being a bad listener, such as not taking advice when offered, are also best avoided if you want to create a professional image.