I recently worked with an image consultant to revise my look. People were having trouble receiving my message when I spoke to them. Using the ROAR process, I determined that there was a disconnect between how I looked and how people expected me to look. The audience got so hung up on that, they weren’t able to focus on what I was saying. My reception after I implemented the new image was everything I could have dreamed of. So, if you’re having trouble with coworkers, clients, bosses, or the public, perhaps you need to find your perfect image, too.
Find Your Perfect Image Consultant
When you set out to find your perfect image, your first step should be to pick the correct image consultant. You don’t want someone who will turn you into a Stepford Executive, looking exactly like all the other executives out there. (Unless you’re in banking. Then people want you to look exactly like a banker should look. It reassures them so that they will trust you with their money.) You want someone who will understand what is unique about you, and help you to present that uniqueness in the best possible way.
I was fortunate that Marian Rothschild, author of Look Good Now and Always, is located in the Denver area. If you’re not local to Colorado, you may be able to get much of her wisdom by reading her book. She’s the woman who helped me choose the right colors, fabrics, and styles for clothing. I also had a style consultation for my hair.
Honor Your Personality
One of the unique things about Marian’s methodology is that she matches people to their dominant element. Mine happens to be water. I talk a lot about resiliency, about adaptability, about going with the flow, about being in flow, about changing direction and reaching your goal despite obstacles, and other phrases that could equally well apply to a stream or river. Of course water is my element! And yet, because I was in the productivity space, I’d been trying to dress like a productivity expert — very rigid, sharp lines, and militaristic overtones. This disconnect between who I was and who I thought I needed to look like was the root of the issue I was having.
Choose Your Colors Wisely
As someone interested in productivity, I knew that minimizing the number of colors in your wardrobe makes it easier to choose outfits. It makes it easier to pack. It makes it easier to look put together and professional. What I didn’t realize is that the right colors can also make you look younger, more vibrant, and more alive. People naturally give more value to the statements of people who look healthy and vibrant. If you want to spend less time convincing people to work with you, and more time getting work done, changing the colors of your wardrobe may make all the difference.
So, where in your life or business are you having difficulty getting your message across? Could you accidentally be undercutting your authority by having a disconnect between how you look and how you behave? Ask an image consultant, and see if you become more productive in your dealings with others as a result.
