Five Ways Professional Poise Can Distinguish You
March 11 2010
Stage presence speaks volumes about how you are perceived. Your audience forms an impression of you before you even open your mouth and this is especially true in the world-of- work. You have control over the way you carry and comport yourself and these traits can help you own your self confidence.
Here are five quick strategies to ramp up your professional poise:
1. Stand tall and use good posture when sitting in a board meeting, making a presentation or even grabbing coffee in the company break room. Good posture is healthy, conveys confidence and can make you look 5 pounds thinner.
2. Analyze your speaking voice. Be sure to speak slowly, clearly and keep your volume constant throughout your statements. Use proper grammar and work towards eliminating filler phrases such as: like, um and you know.
3. Dress the part. Take stock of your professional wardrobe and make sure you are neatly groomed and wearing clothing that reflects the culture (and decade!) of your work environment. Ill fitting and sloppy clothing sends an immediate negative message to your clients and colleagues.
4. Have a positive attitude and avoid work place gossip and politics. Positivity is infectious and can impact how you perform on the job. Pay-it-forward with an upbeat mindset and watch your colleagues follow suit.
5. Be mindful of the rules of etiquette whether you are hosting a client for a business lunch or a guest at your boss’s holiday party. Retool your etiquette know-how so you can be comfortable eating and socializing in a professional environment.
Distinguish yourself and gain self confidence by ramping up your stage presence on the job. Owning the role of the polished, poised, professional will show the world you mean business.