|
The Truth About Body Image
Have you ever considered how much your body
image - your personal packaging, contributes to your business
and personal success?
The multi million pound cosmetics industry is
acutely aware of the value of packaging. You'll know this
if you've ever bought anything from those glamorous ladies
whose counters are always just inside the front door of Department
Stores.
However, from time to time we're presented with
surveys about the creams we rub on our bodies which take years
off our age and make our skin as soft as a baby's bottie.
The surveys tell us "Buy the cheap stuff or the own label
one from the supermarket, 'cause they're all the same."
But do we? Of course we don't. Human beings
are driven by emotions not logic and never more so when spending
their money.
People buy with their eyes, we love packaging.
The marketing and merchandising experts have it down to a
fine art and know the colours and shapes that we're most likely
to buy. They then design their packaging accordingly and make
sure it grabs our attention.
The product in the packaging has to do what
it says it'll do, however if it looks like it can do the business,
then we're more likely to believe it can.
It's just the same with people. Whether we like
it or not, people are likely to make judgements about us by
our body image, the way we're packaged.
They'll then decide whether they like us,whether
they'll give us a job or even just believe what we say.
This seems to be so obvious. Yet I've seen professional
speakers with scuffed shoes, business leaders with outdated
suits and politicians wearing clothes that don't fit them
or suit their shape.
A few months ago I attended a function where
an accountant was invited to speak about his business. He
told the assembled audience how efficient his business was
and about their attention to detail. However his tie was undone
and his shirt looked like he was breaking it in for a smaller
friend. His suit, though probably expensive, wasn't the right
colour for him and merely drew attention to the fact that
its wearer liked his food. All of the things he was saying
were totally contradicted by his body image.
Lawyers, accountants, plumbers or software engineers;
it doesn't matter what you do, other people are very liable
to make a judgement about your abilities by how you're packaged.
Your colleagues and your boss will all make
decisions about the quality of your work and your promotion
prospects by your dress and body image.
There's the famous story about the 1960's pre-election
television debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
These debates were also heard on radio, which was much more
popular at the time. After the debates a poll was taken of
how TV and radio audiences had reacted to the two participants.
The radio audience voted for Nixon, however the TV audience
voted overwhelmingly for Kennedy. The TV audience liked the
look of Kennedy better than Nixon - they liked the packaging.
We also tend to make decisions very quickly
about people we come into contact with. Psychologists have
established that we subconsciously make around eleven decisions
about other people within the first six seconds of meeting
them.
Personnel managers have admitted in surveys
to making a decision about a job applicant within the first
thirty seconds of an interview, these decisions being made
primarily on how the people looked and carried themselves.
How we look will confirm or contradict what
we say. First impressions are also lasting impressions and
take a lot of changing.
Okay, so we can't all have the perfect looks
or the perfect body, what ever that is. It doesn't matter
what shape you are but it does matter how you package that
shape, if you want to make an impact on other people.
How you package yourself can also make a huge
difference to your self-confidence. Have you ever noticed
how confident and self-assured you feel when you dress in
something you feel good in? Particularly when someone genuinely
compliments you.
How you dress can have a huge impact on how
you carry yourself and project to other people.
The problem is that many of us don't have a
clue as to what really suits us and compliments our shape.
This is why so many business people are turning to an image
consultant to improve their personal impact. This may seem
like a costly luxury however consider the cost of restricting
your career or possibly not winning a new account.
So what do you do? Well you could ask your nearest
and dearest to be honest with you and tell you what they really
think about what you wear. The thing is, you really need to
listen and take heed of what they say.
Buy some of the fashion magazines and keep up
to date on the latest fashion. It can also help to find a
good clothes store where the sales assistants will give unbiased
advice.
It's also important to look after the details.
Do your spectacles suit your face? Are you in need of a more
modern haircut? What does that cheap plastic watch say about
you?
Men need to be careful about novelty ties and
fancy socks with a business suit. Women need to take care
with make-up, colours and perfume.
You may have a lot more to offer than a jar
of anti wrinkle cream or a packet of cornflakes; however no
one is going to pick you off the shelf if they don't like
your packaging.
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
About the Author:
Alan Fairweather -"The Motivation Doctor" - is the author
of "How to get More Sales Without Selling" To receive your
free newsletter and free ebooks, visit: howtogetmoresales.com
Article Source, click
here.
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
.:. GO TO TOP ..:.. BACK
TO BODY IMAGE PAGE .:.
|
