Opt for navy or grey colored suits, as black suits can be associated with funerals. Always get your suit tailored by a professional tailor, as this will ensure the suit fits properly and conforms to your body, which in turn makes it look more professional. A proper fit is the most important aspect of purchasing a suit. [2] X Research source
Ensure your phone is in black or silver, and avoid any flashy or colorful cell phone cases. Avoid cellphone tones that are loud or potentially annoying. Loud rock music might be great for Saturday night, but not so good in your client’s waiting room.
Watches with strong brand names like Rolex, Omega, and Cartier project an image of affluence, culture, sophistication, and refined taste. If you cannot afford a watch in the price range of the above brands, shop around for more affordable watches that match your suit. Try brands like Timex, Seiko, and Hamilton for classic and well-built watches. Websites like overstock. com have a wide selection of affordable watches that look elegant and professional.
Regularly polish your shoes and do not wear them in harsh outdoor conditions to ensure they maintain a professional look. Make sure your shoes match your suit. Generally, you can never go wrong with black shoes, but dark brown or walnut colored shoes can be an elegant combination with a navy suit. [4] X Research source Make sure that your belt matches your shoes. The color doesn’t have to be an exact match, but match them as closely as possible. Always wear black with black and brown with brown.
Unless security is a problem, go with a leather portfolio in lieu of a metal or graphite case.
Avoid slouching and straighten your spine. Slouching does not convey energy and confidence, focus on keeping your spine straight. Pull back your shoulder blades. Pulling back your shoulder blades gives the impression of opening yourself up, as well as pushing your chest out, which also conveys confidence. Always keep your chin up. Looking down too often not only promotes bad posture, but it also gives the impression you are shy, or being evasive. This the opposite image of the open and direct impression that promotes positive business relations.
Focus on being aware of yourself and your facial expressions. You may find yourself looking negative or nervous in social situations, or when meeting new people. Try replacing that expression with a smile, and you will find it not only improves your mood, but makes you more approachable to others. Practice smiling while walking down the hall. You will find it will lead to others smiling at you. [11] X Research source
To practice making eye contact, start with routine conversations. As soon as you get an impulse to look away, try continuing eye contact slightly longer. As long as you are smiling and nodding along, it will not seem like you are staring.
For example, if you are a mutual fund salesman at a formal business event to meet with mutual fund managers, make sure to know and learn all the terminology used in the industry, and avoid using the same language you would with a group of friends. Having a firm command of the material you are working with goes a long way to giving an impression of confidence.
Always have a firm handshake. The handshake is an absolute key in the business world, and it is important to grip the other person’s hand firmly and confidently. A loose grip conveys uncertainty and even weakness. [14] X Research source Do not be hesitant to pat colleagues on the back to convey appreciation, or when greeting a colleague you know well. Observing seasoned businessmen interact with each other in a semi-formal or even formal environment, you will observe this is a common action. However, be sure to observe before touching anyone. There are some that do not like being touched and you should be careful not to invade a person’s physical space.
Practice approaching strangers and introducing yourself, as this makes you appear interesting and eager. Become genuinely interested in people, and lead conversations by asking questions. Do not be afraid to use humor as long as you don’t tell “dirty” jokes or stories that demean another race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Think of an image of how you want your life to be in an ideal world. What does it look like? Are you a CEO? Are you giving presentations to hundreds of people? Are you driving a nice car? Having a clear image of what you want your life to look like can provide direction and motivation to create that image.
Make sure your goals are all SMART. That is to say Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If your goal is to become a high-level manager, start with the attainable goal of becoming supervisor of your team within two years, for example.
When networking, avoid “being false”. People avoid those who are “on the make”. Be a giver, not a taker. With networking practice makes perfect. A good tip to initiate conversations is to simply to approach individuals or groups and ask simple opening questions such as “What bring you here?” or even a simple, “How are you?” Listening is as important as talking. It not only allows you to get to know the person better, but can make the person feel important.
Prioritizing is key. Since there are often more tasks than there is time to complete them, being able to say no to non-essential tasks is important. If you are working on a major project that takes up all of your time, and you are asked to assist on small project for someone else that interferes with the successful conclusion of your project, it is important to ask for additional resources, or simply turn down the request. Spreading oneself too thin leads to mediocre results and burn-out. [18] X Research source When prioritizing, focus on the tasks that are most important to accomplishing your personal goals, and allocate the most them for them, with less critical goals getting less time.
