The image of a business person: components and formation
In the modern world, in order to be successful, regardless of the specific field of activity, one must have not only professional skills and abilities, have an appropriate education, but also have a good reputation and business image.
What it is, how to create a business image, what mistakes should be avoided - these and some other questions will be discussed in the article.
What it is?
Business image plays an important role in the perception of each specialist. In the event that a professional has a good reputation, he feels more confident and is popular among colleagues.
At its core, the image of a business person is the image that every professional creates around himself, the way he wants to be perceived by the people around him (boss, clients, colleagues).
It can be concluded that such an image is of great importance in promoting a person up the career ladder. This manifests itself already upon hiring.
So, a well-written resume, a cover letter, and the presence of letters of recommendation are a huge advantage.
In this regard, today all specialists are concerned with creating their own business image, and this applies to both young and experienced professionals in their field. When shaping your image as a business person it is very important to pay attention to all the details (even those that at first glance may seem insignificant).
Components of the image
Generally speaking, the image of a business person is his holistic image. However, it is made up of a number of constituent components. Let's consider them in more detail.
External perception
It is no secret that the appearance of a specialist plays an important role.Inconsistency in appearance can lead to refusal of employment or promotion, even if professional skills and competencies are at the level. That's why a large number of people primarily pay their attention to this particular component.
Of course, to create the right look, you need to choose the right clothes and the right hairstyle. A universal option is a business suit. However, in some situations, such vestments may not be appropriate. In these cases, you need to dress more freely while adhering to the dress code.
For example, loose-fitting trousers and a shirt are suitable, for women - a blouse and a skirt below the knee.
As for the hairstyle, it is traditional in the business world for men to have their hair cut short. Women's hair should be neatly collected or carefully styled.
Attention should also be paid to the condition of the skin and nails. The nails should be clean and well-groomed, the same goes for the skin. Women are allowed a neutral manicure (eg French). Makeup that is too bright should not be it should be in pastel colors. In the corporate environment, the presence of such attributes as piercings or tattoos is negatively perceived.
And also it is worth paying attention to the choice of high-quality and light perfume.
Mimic
The mimic component of the image of a business person is manifested primarily in communication. So, a person should speak with a slight smile, have a benevolent facial expression and, in general, be positive. Very often on our face you can "read" our reaction to this or that event. A business person needs to keep this fact in mind and try to be as restrained as possible. If necessary, it is recommended to exercise in front of a mirror.
Verbal perception
In the process of forming a business image, special attention should be paid to your speech apparatus and its development. The thing is that voice, tone and manner of speaking greatly affect the holistic perception of the specialist... In addition, speech itself must be correctly structured.
Particular attention should be paid to the words and phrases used, the method of constructing sentences. And also various speech defects can play a negative role.
Many businessmen seek specialized help from trainers who help them to train their voice and develop their vocal apparatus. It is also helpful to read books.
Kinetic
The kinetic component of the image of a business person and his image is posture, gait and movement. In this regard, you need to adhere to a certain moderation. For example, it is indecent to sit lounging in an armchair. At the same time, slouching is not recommended.
Mental
The mental component of the image of a business person is mainly understood as his worldview, which includes moral principles and ethical attitudes. Generally speaking, there are no definite restrictions on how a person should think and how to feel. However, it should be borne in mind that, being part of society, you need to adhere to business etiquette and generally accepted rules of conduct.
Material perception
The perception of a business person is also formed in accordance with his material well-being and depends on what benefits he has (a private car, a country house, antique furniture, designer accessories, and much more). In this respect it is recommended to adhere to the golden mean: on the one hand, your things should emphasize your status, and on the other, not create an atmosphere of bragging.
Background
It would seem that background elements of a business image do not directly depend on you. However, the background is formed on the basis of and taking into account information about you, which can be disseminated through a variety of channels (media, social networks, customer reviews). That's why the image you have developed should be shown in all life situations: not only at a business meeting, but also at a family dinner or in a store.
It can be concluded that the image of a business person is a complex concept that is formed from a large number of various components.
Therefore, it is so important to pay attention to each of them.
How to create?
Image formation should start with introspection. To do this, you need to try to objectively assess your own personality, its advantages and disadvantages, those traits that can harm the image and those that support it well. It is rather difficult to carry out such work on your own, therefore, at this stage, businessmen and lawyers often resort to the help of outside specialists (for example, psychologists), as well as friends and relatives.
After this preparatory stage has been passed, you can proceed to the direct formation of the image.
Man
Nowadays, most businessmen and powerful people are men. That is why the process of forming a business image of a representative of the strong half of humanity is faster and easier. ...
It is important to pay attention to all the above-described components and gradually improve each of the elements.
Woman
Modern business women insist that it is much more difficult for women in business than for men. This fact is partly true. So, in order to gain respect in the corporate community, a woman needs to prove that a career in her life is, indeed, of great importance, since in modern society, representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are perceived as keepers of home and comfort.
What is unacceptable?
When building your business image, it is very important to avoid mistakes that can become fatal.
- Ignoring cultural characteristics and mentality. Very often, domestic businessmen are guided by the Western market, trying to imitate the behavior of famous figures (for example, Steve Jobs). However, at the same time, there is absolutely no analysis of the market of our country and the peculiarities of the mentality of domestic citizens. If you make this mistake, you can form a negative image.
- Independence... Often, business people who are used to achieving everything on their own are not ready to seek help. However, in the process of forming an image, such actions are mandatory. So, designers and stylists will help you choose a wardrobe, do a haircut and make-up, business coaches will tell you how to behave in negotiations and explain the secrets of public speaking, public relations agents will help you form a positive image in the media.
- Reluctance. Many businessmen believe that building an image is an unnecessary activity and a waste of time. The main thing, in their opinion, is to have professionalism in their field, as well as to achieve the set goals. However, it is not. Of course, your competencies should form the basis of your business, but at the same time, public perception of you plays an equally important role.
Recommendations
In order to successfully form a business image, there are a few simple tips to follow.
- Don't copy famous people... Very often in a business environment, you can see that many novice businessmen try to copy the appearance, habits or lifestyle of already established and famous people. This tactic is not correct. Of course, you can focus on images that inspire you, but you must remain yourself, be an individual.
- Take a systematic approach. You should not try to improve all areas of your life at once and at the same time. It is better to draw up a rough plan and act in accordance with it. So, first, take care of your appearance, form a professional wardrobe, choose the right styling, then proceed to improve the speech apparatus and so on.
- Focus on current trends. When shaping your business image, pay attention to trends that are relevant in the business community. Thus, you will remain a competitive and relevant specialist.