Md Altaf Hussain :
How you present yourself to your colleagues, supervisor and clients is crucial to how people perceive you, as well as to your career development. Presenting yourself professionally is all about knowing what the standard is in your company or industry and finding a way to adhere to it without losing your individuality. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll soon learn how to present yourself to your best professional advantage.
Set yourself apart, be memorable
Introductions happen so often that those short attention spans of ours come to bear, even in this shortest of activities; since repetition makes people tune out almost immediately, make your introduction memorable.
How you are memorable depends, of course, on the group. Emphasise what others will get from you. They don’t care so much about the name of your company or even what you do there. They care about what it means to them.
Request a team introduction
Did you find yourself plopped down at your desk without the offer of a proper introduction? You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for one-grab a quiet minute with your manager and ask to be properly introduced to the team.
Where possible, it’s better to meet each colleague one by one. This eliminates any future awkwardness and gives you a chance to repeatedly practice how to introduce yourself to a new team.
Be mindful of your workspace
Keep your workspace clean and organized. Again, you can let your work environment guide you as to how much you can personalise it. In some companies, it’s best to keep it to a framed photo of your kids and a nice paperweight, while in other companies, you can decorate your cubicle or office with anything from coloured sticky notes potted plants. It’s best to stay away from lots of humorous postcards or novelty items, since they can subconsciously convey the impression that you’re not serious about your job.
Show a little vulnerability
Finding people that we connect with can be elusive, especially at work-related events. I think a lot of the angst in the workplace and angst with each other is because we don’t talk about who we really are as people. So, take a chance, open up in your opening remarks, and reveal something honest about yourself.
Make sure you’re well groomed
Your clothes should be clean and wrinkle-free, without holes or missing buttons. Shine scuffed shoes. Regularly get a trim for short hairstyles or bangs and if you colour your hair, make sure to do so regularly to avoid root issues.
Behave professionally
No matter how casual your work environment, it’s critical that you behave professionally at all times. Consistently deliver good work, meet deadlines and be on time for meetings. Always be polite and positive-even when others aren’t.
Accessorize appropriately
Accessories speak volumes about people-both in terms of care and style. Since style is highly personal, the most important thing to bear in mind when accessorising is to select pieces that are in good shape and appropriate for the company culture. For example, cufflinks, a tiepin and a leather briefcase are appropriate for a bank employee or lawyer. If you work at a tech start-up, you should probably have a relatively new Smartphone and tablet. Remember: if an accessory is worn or broken, replace it.
Gather some feedback on your introduction
After you’ve crafted your opener, practice it on five people you know well. Then, a few days later, ask them, what do you remember most about my intro? Their few-days-later response will tell you what is most memorable about your opener, what you could alter, and what you might try to lean into when meeting new people.
Shake hands and use ‘open’ body language
Your body language says a lot about your character and how you feel at any given moment. The same is true of meeting people for the first time.
Avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands on your hips and opt for a friendly handshake and some eye contact to show you’re receptive and approachable.
It’s okay to feel a little nervous about starting a new job, but if you take the right steps on your first few days, the remaining days to come will be walk in the park.
How you present yourself to your colleagues, supervisor and clients is crucial to how people perceive you, as well as to your career development. Presenting yourself professionally is all about knowing what the standard is in your company or industry and finding a way to adhere to it without losing your individuality. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll soon learn how to present yourself to your best professional advantage.
Set yourself apart, be memorable
Introductions happen so often that those short attention spans of ours come to bear, even in this shortest of activities; since repetition makes people tune out almost immediately, make your introduction memorable.
How you are memorable depends, of course, on the group. Emphasise what others will get from you. They don’t care so much about the name of your company or even what you do there. They care about what it means to them.
Request a team introduction
Did you find yourself plopped down at your desk without the offer of a proper introduction? You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for one-grab a quiet minute with your manager and ask to be properly introduced to the team.
Where possible, it’s better to meet each colleague one by one. This eliminates any future awkwardness and gives you a chance to repeatedly practice how to introduce yourself to a new team.
Be mindful of your workspace
Keep your workspace clean and organized. Again, you can let your work environment guide you as to how much you can personalise it. In some companies, it’s best to keep it to a framed photo of your kids and a nice paperweight, while in other companies, you can decorate your cubicle or office with anything from coloured sticky notes potted plants. It’s best to stay away from lots of humorous postcards or novelty items, since they can subconsciously convey the impression that you’re not serious about your job.
Show a little vulnerability
Finding people that we connect with can be elusive, especially at work-related events. I think a lot of the angst in the workplace and angst with each other is because we don’t talk about who we really are as people. So, take a chance, open up in your opening remarks, and reveal something honest about yourself.
Make sure you’re well groomed
Your clothes should be clean and wrinkle-free, without holes or missing buttons. Shine scuffed shoes. Regularly get a trim for short hairstyles or bangs and if you colour your hair, make sure to do so regularly to avoid root issues.
Behave professionally
No matter how casual your work environment, it’s critical that you behave professionally at all times. Consistently deliver good work, meet deadlines and be on time for meetings. Always be polite and positive-even when others aren’t.
Accessorize appropriately
Accessories speak volumes about people-both in terms of care and style. Since style is highly personal, the most important thing to bear in mind when accessorising is to select pieces that are in good shape and appropriate for the company culture. For example, cufflinks, a tiepin and a leather briefcase are appropriate for a bank employee or lawyer. If you work at a tech start-up, you should probably have a relatively new Smartphone and tablet. Remember: if an accessory is worn or broken, replace it.
Gather some feedback on your introduction
After you’ve crafted your opener, practice it on five people you know well. Then, a few days later, ask them, what do you remember most about my intro? Their few-days-later response will tell you what is most memorable about your opener, what you could alter, and what you might try to lean into when meeting new people.
Shake hands and use ‘open’ body language
Your body language says a lot about your character and how you feel at any given moment. The same is true of meeting people for the first time.
Avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands on your hips and opt for a friendly handshake and some eye contact to show you’re receptive and approachable.
It’s okay to feel a little nervous about starting a new job, but if you take the right steps on your first few days, the remaining days to come will be walk in the park.
