First impressions are made with seconds, not minutes. Before you even open your mouth, someone has made a judgment or assumption about you and your capabilities.

  • A sharp image inspires confidence, communicates leadership ability and helps to advance your prospects
  • Every contact with customers, prospects or suppliers gives you the opportunity to enhance or dilute your personal brand

Here are a few simple tips to help you manage your personal brand for maximum results. They are categorised into those things that will enhance your brand and those that will dilute it. Keep these in mind when preparing for your next business (or social) occasion.

15 Brand Diluters

  1. Ill fitting clothes: eg too revealing, too short, too tight, see-through, too big or gaping
  2. No make-up, too much make-up out-dated make-up
  3. Chipped nail polish, dirty or chewed fingernails
  4. Bad breath or body odour
  5. Dirty or scuffed shoes
  6. Over-powering scent (ie perfume/aftershave)
  7. Laddered hosiery or stockings with open-toe shoes
  8. Untidy or dirty hair
  9. Constant sniffing or throat clearing
  10. Not returning phone calls
  11. Turning up late
  12. Answering or checking your phone during meetings
  13. Over promising and under delivering
  14. Not walking your talk
  15. A weak or an overly firm handshake

15 Brand Enhancers

  1. Smart, pressed and clean clothing – without stains, missing buttons, pulled threads, frayed cuffs etc
  2. Clothing that fits you well, enhances your shape and minimises any flaws
  3. Polished shoes and matching socks/ hosiery
  4. Stylish pen, portfolio/notebook for meetings
  5. Good posture…walk tall & sit up straight – good posture can take off 10 years and 5 kilos
  6. Under-promising and over-delivering
  7. Being punctual and calling immediately if something prevents from being so
  8. Giving without thought of getting
  9. Smile, and look people in the eye
  10. Being consistent in your appearance and your actions
  11. Remembering other peoples names
  12. Confirming appointments the day before
  13. Being authentic and believing in yourself
  14. Saying thank you…often
  15. Making someone feel good, just because you can