The 5 Worst Business Handshakes

Your handshake is the business card you leave behind – people will always remember you by it. Ensure at all times your handshake demonstrates your personal brand and professional business etiquette in the first few seconds of meeting someone.

Here are handshakes to avoid as they are seen as the most annoying and disliked:

1. The Wet Fish

You know…that limp, “sloppy dishcloth” type of handshake.
What is says: the person is weak in character, cold in nature, insincere, lack of commitment.
It can be due to cultural reasons – in Asian and African cultures it demonstrates respect. A firm handshake can be seen as offensive.
At all times take the person and situation into account when shaking hands e.g. a young African woman shaking hands with an older traditional African male client – a limp handshake would be appropriate. The same young woman shaking hands with an older white male manager – a firm handshake would be appropriate.

2. The “Fingerella” or Finger-Tip Grab

Normally a female greeting –where just the fingers are given as a handshake. Women get it from outdated social expectations, when they were expected to shake hands softly.
What is says: not interested in you, the situation. I would rather be doing something else-somewhere else. Also conveys weakness, uncertainty, and pretention.

3. The Bone-Crusher

A client once gave me the bone crusher and broke every nail on my hand!

What is says: the person is wanting to take over, dominate the situation. They are insecure and trying to make up for this with a bone crushing handshake.
What to do: If it’s a colleague and you know them well make them aware of it…say “Ouch..that hurt me,your grip is far too strong.”

4. The two-handed handshake

Engaging one hand with the other person’s hand, then placing the other hand on top, creating a comforting enclosure.
What is says: nurturing, warm friendly, endearing, sympathetic. It can also be seen as the “Politician’s” handshake someone not to be trusted. Unless you know the other person understands the meaning of this handshake avoid it in business. Acceptable in the African culture.

5. The Gas Pump Handle

When shaking someone’s hand 2/3 pumps is sufficient-avoid “over-pumping”. This makes the other person uncomfortable as they don’t know when to let go.
What to do: Step into the person’s personal space area and lower your hand – its almost forces an automatic release.
Men to women handshakes
Men don’t be afraid to give a woman a firm handshake – as long as its not a bone crushing one. Women, shake a man’s hand with strength, no dead fishes!

The Correct Handshake

Aim the web of your hand straight into the web (between your thumb and forefinger) of the other person’s hand.

Get the two webs contacting one another.

Wrap your fingers against the back of the other person’s hand. Two to three pumps.

This handshake ensures:
1. You get a good grip, sending messages of confidence and strength.
2. You convey warmth with a “wrap-around” feel.
If you have no idea what your handshake is saying right now practice it with your friends and colleagues and get their feedback rather than sending out the incorrect message.
Ensure you send out the best possible impressions in the first few seconds of interacting with anyone by giving them the correct handshake. Happy handshaking!

For more information on our etiquette programmes click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za or call 011 469 1396

References:

http://www.talk2cei.com

http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap2.html

4 Reasons Why Business Etiquette Is Essential

Do you practice good business etiquette? Have you ever lost a client and didn’t know why? Have you ever forgotten a person’s name two minutes after being introduced? When many people think of business etiquette, they think of which fork to use at a business lunch or what is appropriate to wear to a business meeting, but although these questions are important to know the answers of, it’s merely the tip of the iceberg. Business etiquette is more about respect than formality and can have a significant effect on the bottom line.

You only have a few seconds to make a good first impression, whether you’re meeting a prospective client or networking with power players within your industry. How you or your employees present themselves affects not only your reputation, but also your company’s image and a mastery of business etiquette can help even the smallest businesses hold their own against their larger and more high-profile competitors. There are many benefits of business etiquette that, when learned, can become business tools that can be used throughout your career.

Do you think you could you benefit from business etiquette training?

If you are not sure take a look at the top benefits of Business Etiquette.

1. Enhances Impression

• People judge you and your business on how you carry yourself in social and professional situations. If you don’t know the proper way to shake someone’s hand or offer your business card, people might question your business skills.
• By observing proper business etiquette, you suggest to fellow professionals that you’re on their level. You also portray yourself as someone who is confident and at ease, both in the boardroom and when meeting with people one-on-one.

2. Enriches Workplace Relations

• With its focus on respect for others, business etiquette can pave the way for a collaborative and civilised corporate culture.
• Many basic business etiquette rules are actually common courtesies e.g.
o not checking your email or phone during meetings
o answering your phone when someone is talking to you
o barging into other people’s offices unannounced
o talking loudly all the time
o using a speakerphone unless you have a private office.
• Additionally, abiding by etiquette principles can eliminate some of the distractions associated with the workplace, such as gossip or personality clashes. It also ensures workplace relationships stay professional and that colleagues don’t blur the line between work and personal life or allow their personal feelings to affect their workplace behaviour.

3. Promotes Business Growth

• A little business etiquette knowledge can open up several professional doors.
• Potential clients and associates will often judge you as much on your soft skills as they will your business savvy.
• Someone skilled in communication and comfortable in a wide range of professional situations will inspire trust more easily than someone who isn’t.
• When you observe business etiquette principles you will know how to handle yourself both in high-stakes meetings and at business lunches, you’ll impress people with your versatility and people skills.

4. Endorses your Personal Brand

• Yes the products & services you offer are extremely important, but your/your staff’s business etiquette and behaviour of you employees is just as essential.
• People gravitate toward those who project self-confidence and success and knowing the appropriate business etiquette guidelines will allow you to display more of these qualities and exude a powerful personal brand.
• Being noticed for your great business etiquette skills is a sure way to get recognised and moved up the ladder.

A lack of business etiquette will limit your potential, harm your personal brand, and jeopardise relationships that are fundamental to business success. Making your customers and employees comfortable with proper business etiquette is the cornerstone of a great business success model!

Call us today – we will tailor make a business etiquette presentation to address your company’s specific needs and challenges.

For information about our etiquette workshops, click here

 

Contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za or call 011 469 1396

3 Slang Words To Avoid In Your Vocabulary

To sound instantly smarter at work, avoid the use of “weed/slang” words such as:

1. Awesome -Inventing a new cure for a disease is awesome because it’s awe inspiring. My Louis Vuitton bag is not AWESOME – elegant & beautiful yes.

2. Like – unless you want to sound 12 years old stop saying “It’s not, like, very professional of you. Your boss can, like, get mad and fire you.”

3. Abbreviations - “Love my new frenemie, Brenda, she’s totes adorbz! We had the most EPIC cappuccino at the canteen.”

Amazeballs, deets, YOLO, LOL, WUT!

What weed/slang words do you feel you need to delete from your vocabulary?

For more information on our communication skills & business etiquette programmes click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za or call 011 469 1396

Discover Your Dress Style Personality

Discover your dress Style Personality. Be honest with yourself and let your true personality answer every question.

Select the answers that best describe you.

1. The type of clothes I prefer for work are:
A. separates that mix and match. Comfort is key.
B. softly tailored garments, delicate pieces, pretty blouses.
C. tailored suits, garments.
D. the latest fashion trend that suits me.

2. On casual work days you are most comfortable in
A. a tracksuit.
B. flowing dresses, skirts.
C. a white button-down shirt and jeans.
D. trendy top with skinny jeans.

3. When choosing a print it is usually:
A. plain or a small pattern
B. soft florals, polka dots.
C. pinstripe, paisley.
D. fashionable prints, latest colours. Designer name prints.

4. I shop or would like to shop at:
A. Woolies casual section
B. Forever New
C. Jenny Button, Queenspark
D. Trendy boutique, Zara, Designer Emporium

5. Which would be your dream car?
A. 4 x 4
B. White Rolls–Royce with chauffeur
C. Mercedes, BMW.
D. Porsche,latest convertible

6. What would be your dream holiday?
A. white water rafting, hiking, camping
B. Paris in spring time
C. tour of the chateaus in the South of France
D. shopping in NY, Paris, London

7. When not working, you feel most like yourself
A. in the bush, at a picnic.
B. attending a tea party at the Westcliff.
C. at home hosting a dinner party.
D. latest trendy spot.

8. Your accessory of choice is
A. a simple watch.
B. love accessories, bangles, earrings, rings-wear everyday.
C. a strand or 2 of pearls.
D. the new “it” bag & shoes.

9. The perfect everyday work shoe for you would be:
A. flats.
B. a peep toe with detail
C. a comfortable court shoe
D. statement stilettos.

10. You tend to wear
A. neutral, earthy colours.
B. mostly pastel colours.
C. black, grey, navy.
D. latest fashion colours

11. Your make-up and hairstyle:
A. Wash and wear hairstyle, minimal make-up
B. Soft and feminine
C. Neat hairstyle, subtle understated make-up
D. Experiment with make-up & hairstyle regularly

Evaluating your style quiz answers

Now that you’ve taken our style quiz, find out who you are and how to define your look. Add up your number of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s and enter them in the blocks below:

Mostly A’s: The Natural
You dress for comfort – you possess no tailored suits or jackets. Your color palette includes earth tones, white, the colours of nature. You possess none or very few prints. You like uncomplicated clothes- you refuse to spend more than 15 minutes in putting yourself together.

Warning: you could be seen as too casual and not serious enough about your job. Remember to dress for the position you aspire to be in not the one you are currently in. Your overly “plain” style may leave you to be unnoticed.
Tip: Introduce some darker neutrals as anchor garments in stiffer fabrics and more tailored lines.

Mostly B’s: The Romantic
You are a true romantic and always look feminine and pretty.
You love wearing loose-flowing, romantic tops, skirts, and dresses. Ruffles, lace, chiffon, pleats, floral prints are all wardrobe staples.

Warning: you could be seen as too “girly” and not taken serious enough specially in a dominant male environment.
Tip: Don’t put all the elements together e.g. ruffles, sheer fabric, pleated skirt, pastels. Use on or two of these and anchor with a tailored, darker neutral garment.

Mostly C’s: The Classic
You have an easy way about dressing and are always put together and chic. You stick very close to the basics. Fashion does not dictate your wardrobe – you believe in classic pieces.
You value quality more than quantity and style more than fashion. Yours is an understated look. You appear elegant and chic at all times. You prefer plains rather than prints, dark neutrals rather than colour.

Warning: you could appear boring and outdated
Tip: introduce some new colours and prints into your wardrobe so you appear more current.

Mostly D’s: The Fashionista
You’re the ultimate fashionista! You love to dress up. You buy all the latest fashion magazines and always know what are the latest fashion trends and colour.

Warning: you could appear too trendy and over the top in a tradionally corporate environment.
Tip: Use the trendy print, colour in edited versions iow not from head to toe. Anchor outfit with a classic piece e.g. tailored jacket or pants in a dark neutral.

Help! I scored in various categories similarly
You suffer from multiple personality style dress disorder. You don’t want to have too many styles going on at the same time. Work on defining a personal style that reflects your personal brand and personality. For inspiration see what décor you like in your house is it Natural? Feminine? Classic? Or very Trendy?

For more information on our corporate image and personal branding programmes click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za

Sensational Summer Style Guide

It’s time to do a wardrobe re-vamp and freshen up your look for the new season. You might ask “Why do I need to follow the trends?” You should follow the trends in order to look fresh, relevant and current otherwise you can get stuck in a rut. At all times still remain authentic to your personal style. If you don’t know what this is take this simple quizz. Here is a guide on how to interpret the summer trends in an office environment.

Monochrome: this black & white combo is all the rage now but always stays an elegant classic – you will look current and chic! A must have.

Print Revolution: digital, bright animal (snakeskin) prints; bold florals; tropical – paradise prints; oriental designs. Don’t do from head to toe. Anchor with a neutral colour skirt, pants. Select prints on white backgrounds for a fresh feel.

Minimalist: tailored crisp neutral garments head to toe. Update your white blouse each season.

Super Stripes: big, bold colourful or black and white stripes are a hit this season. Ensure you place horizontal stripes over the narrowest part of your body – not the widest. Remember, the wider the stripe-the wider you will look. Diagonal stripes have the most slimming effect.

Romance: embrace femininity- soften your wardrobe with lace, sheer fabrics, ruffles. Team up with a tailored garment to add credibility to the look. On how to look sophisticated and not SEXY when wearing sheer garments at work ensure follow these tips. 

Colour Confidence: It’s time to add some great colour somewhere in your outfits! In the corporate environment always remember to anchor bold colours with a darker neutral. For 6 more colours for this Summer click here

Accessories

Crisp white bag, statement necklaces, metallic belts, transparent clutch, shoes, glasses.

Work doesn’t stop in the Summer months – why should your professional image?

Summer Caution: - stay away from this unless in a casual work environment.
The shorts suit; Top to toe white; Print on print; pyjama-looking bold, bright coloured pants; Two toned shoes, bags, if you’re on a small budget – they are limiting when it comes to mixing and matching; Maxi dresses, maxi skirts – too casual for everyday; Tight clingy fabrics showing up every lump and bump; Flat form shoes – these are not work appropriate but very on trend; Nail art, bright coloured nails.

 And for the men

Suits: the cut is slim fit, even ultra slim (for the younger). Double vents, 2 button jackets, pants with no pleats. Cobalt blue, powder blue, silver greys are popular suit colours this season.

Blazers: in a hopsack twill weave giving a surface that is lightly pebbled or ribbed.

Shirts: slim fit, double or single cuff, cut-away collars. Self-striped, pinhead, herringbone prints. Pinks, powder blues, lilacs. Monochrome shirt & tie combinations

Pants: narrow waistbands, worn low, no pleats, narrow bottom

Ties: slim but no slimmer than 7.5 cm’s for work. The latest are ties that are finished with a special water repellent treatment that makes it perfect for the frequent traveller.

So, you see, a whole new wardrobe might be nice, but it’s not necessary. Think fun color, light and lively pieces. Sprinkle them liberally into your outfits and you will be on your way.

Enjoy a Sensational Stylish Summer!

For more information on our corporate image and personal branding programmes click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za

Image Consultants - The Benefits

The Benefits of Hiring a Corporate Image and Etiquette Consultant

- Is your staff currently projecting the best impression on your internal and external clients?
- Is the company’s brand reputation being damaged due to the lack of professionalism and bad imagedisplayed by employees?
- Could your company be losing customers and potential clients to your competition as a result of the staff’s poorcorporate image or etiquette?

The services of hiring an image consultant are no longer specifically aimed at sports stars, celebrities or large corporation executives. Instead, the benefits of hiring a corporate image consultant are now available to everyone who wants to excel in their line of work and command executive presence.

Many people mistakenly believe that image consultants simply teach you how to dress the part – that was a while ago. A professional and experienced consultant will help develop each team member’s  personal brand, align to work and company goals and branding and also provide powerful tools and guidelines how to behave  in such a manner that is appropriate to every  situation. By building on your presence, self-confidence and approach you can improve on your credibility as well as secure business deals, develop a uniform business brand, and gain access to new business and career opportunities that you might have otherwise missed.

At Professional Impressions our key focus is to provide you and your staff with powerful skills related to personal branding, corporate image, etiquette, communication and professionalism in the workplace.

This is what we can do for your team/staff:

• Provide valuable skills whilst entertaining them.  We call it INFOTAINMENT.

• Offer a consistent and focused approach in the total brand message  portrayed.

• Develop a powerful personal brand aligned to the organization/company brand.

• Increase executive  presence and credibility.

• Convey a total brand message with confidence and impact.

• Build increased confidence and self-esteem.

• Improve sales success.

• Assist in creating new opportunities in career and personal paths.

• Make the impressions projected powerful and influential.

• Find workable solutions for day-to-day interactions.

• Demonstrate world class professionalism.

• Create professional standards that represent what your staff and your company stand for.

• Discover correct, focused solutions to suit your needs.

• Provide you with cost effective and time efficient packages.

“Thank you for your excellent session with our team and for taking so much trouble to tailor the content to align with our focus areas. The feedback from our staff was excellent – we all found it informative and useful.  We all hold our personal brand far more dearly than before.” Karen Cilliers – Head of Client Business RMB-FICC Operations

Our team of experts  will create a tailor made solution to solve you/ and your staff’s corporate image, etiquetteand personal brand challenges.

We will ensure that existing and potential clients are:

• dazzled by the way the staff represents their personal and company brand;

• impressed by your team’s image excellence ; and

• inspired by their business etiquette and professionalism.

If you want this year to be your best business year yet – book your presentation or training programme with us now  click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za or call 011 469 1396

What Should I Wear To The Party?

For those panic-stricken occasions when you read an invitation & think
“What should I wear? Not all parties are created equal–time, host and event must be considered when choosing the outfit. Here are some common events and the suggested attire for these occasions (in decreasing order of formality):

White Tie or Cravate Blanche dress code
The most formal of evening wear. Very few of us will ever need to dress at this level so don’t stress. State dinners, diplomatic functions and very formal charity balls.

Women: Ornate ball gowns, upswept hair, long gloves, even tiaras are worn.
Men: Black tailcoat, white evening waistcoat, white bow tie.

Black Tie or Evening Dress dress code
Weddings, gala dinners, charity balls, opening nights, year end functions.

Women: Floor length evening dress. Sophisticated and elegant. No plunging necklines or daredevil slits.
Men: Tuxedos/smoking/dinner jackets in black or white. A fly front or ruffled dress shirt with white or red silk handkerchief in pocket, cuff links. A cummerbund to cover the area where the shirt tucks into the pants. Black bow tie.

Ethnic dress is also appropriate.

Social black tie or formal dress code
Weddings, gala dinners, year end functions.

Women: Don’t waste this wonderful occasion by going in a plain frock–turn on the GLITZ. Floor length evening dress. Glamorous, red carpet at the Oscar’s stuff!
Men: Black tie as above or dark suit worn with white shirt, luxurious evening tie in black or bold colour.

Ethnic dress is also appropriate.

Collar & tie or Cocktail dress code
Year–end functions, cocktail parties, business dinners.

Women: Knee length or just above the knee cocktail dresses-the style and colour of the dress is dictated by the formality of event. A classic – the little black dress (LBD). Optional: skirt with a glitzy or chiffon top.
Men: Dark to mid tone suit, colour or white collared shirt and tie. Shirts and ties can have a print, be textured, have a shee or be in colour.

Smart casual dress code
Less formal year–end parties, business lunches or dinners.

Women: Tailored dresses–from a-lined, to a shift dress. Tailored solid colour pants, glamorised with a blouse, bling top or collared tailored blouse. Skirts at or above the knee. Optional – jackets. Costume jewellery, statement shoes, clutch bags are a good option.
Men: Gabardine, cotton or wool pants combined with a long sleeve shirt. Colours and pattern can be bolder than previous dress codes. A blazer and tie is optional.

Casual Smart
Functions include relaxed dinners, corporate get– a– ways, lazy summer braais and picnics.

Women: Dark jeans, casual pants, capri pants, soft fabric skirts, casual dresses.
Men: Chino’s, casual pants or dark jeans. Soft collared shirts, golfers, good quality cotton t–shirts.

So now you know all about dress codes for different formal occasions – enjoy and mingle. If you are concerned about your networking or conversation skills, click here for tips on the art of small talk.

For more information on our corporate image and personal branding programmes click here or contact us on info@profimpressions.co.za