YOU ARE A BRAND

YOU ARE A BRAND

Appearances are part of your personal brand. Dress the part you want to play, pay attention to your mannerisms,
and if you suspect that something in your visual presentation may be off-putting to your audience, ask a trusted friend or colleague for feedback.

If our total communication score is 100 percent, what percentage of our communication is

Verbal: The content of what you say
Vocal: How you sound when you say it
Visual: How you look when you say it

A 1967 study done at UCLA established what’s called the Mehrabian rule.
The research found that in a very
specific situation (where people were communicating about emotions and attitudes), 7 percent of what came
across depended on the content of what was said;
38 percent depended on how it was said (the speaker’s voice, tone, and accents);
and 55 percent depended on how the person looked when communicating.

The study did drive home the point that visual (nonverbal) communication is hugely important.
The take-home point is that what your listeners see in a face-to-face encounter is at least as important as what they hear
from you, so don’t neglect your nonverbal
communication.

Clothes for your brand
Does your clothing represent the sum of who you are or a just a fraction of the whole you? Presuming that you’re
aiming for a position that includes greater responsibility, dressing for the life you aspire to means demonstrating
attention to detail, particularly as it relates to proper fit.

It is not just physical fit that is important; it is about a psychological fit, which means that your clothing represents your values and personality, and a situational
fit, which means your look complements your role and the occasion.

Everything you wear conveys information about you. For this reason, you need to understand the foundational
details of a well-dressed individual. Be realistic and honest with yourself about what fits your body and what
doesn’t.
Do your research by shopping without buying. Learn what brands and designers cut their garments in a
shape most similar to your body.

Successful people connect well with others through their writing, speaking,
and nonverbal communication. They recognize that their clothing and grooming are nonverbal tools they can
control to help them achieve their goals and ambitions.

What you wear and how you wear it has a domino effect. This is referred to as the universal effects of image.
This phrase is appropriate because the way you look affects the way
You think about yourself.
You feel about yourself.
You speak.
You act or conduct yourself.
Others react or respond to you.

Color is an important aspect of your personal brand in the clothing that you wear.

Grooming tips.
Like the clothes you wear, your grooming is a complex form of visual, nonverbal communication.
Grooming not only includes keeping your body clean and odor-free but
also caring for and maintaining your teeth, breath, hair, hands, and nails. Body piercings and tattoos are best
covered up in the work environment.

Sufficient sleep, exercise and rest also factor into the equation so that you can look your best and appear to be ready for
the next opportunity.

Managing your grooming routine communicates an attention to detail that helps you create a positive first
and lasting impression about you and your abilities.