Written by: London Forbes, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Just as the pen may be mightier than the sword, when it comes to communication, actions are mightier than words. With nonverbal communication one of the most vital forms of communication, image consultants go to great lengths to ensure that a client’s image represents and enhances that client’s personality and brand identity.
By carefully observing as well as listening to our clients, we deliver the insights needed to help people cultivate and strengthen their image. With nonverbal cues revealing the most, the more I watch my clients, the greater the understanding I gain of their nature.
As I regularly tell clients, our actions determine who we are, and our words define who we aim to be. Don't get me wrong, aspirations are crucial – they broaden our perspective on what’s possible in life. However, as I'm sure you don’t need to tell; it can be a challenge to align our behaviour with our words, with many people unaware of the gulf between the two. When it comes to personal brand building, keep this alignment in mind. For your image to work, it needs to reflect both what you do and what you say.
Making The Right Impression
As with most things, the key to building a powerful image is honesty. By observing yourself and being sincere about what you find, you provide yourself with a solid and meaningful starting point on which to build an image that truly defines and enhances who you are.
Whether it's through the way you dress or your body language, first impressions should exude a sense of trust and confidence. With a first impression only taking a few seconds to establish, you need to make these seconds count. Considering that 55% of our communication is nonverbal, refining your image and body language is a crucial part of the equation.
The truth is, when people first meet, they make up their minds about each other before they even say hello. Through thin slicing, we analyze visual details to make important decisions such as can I trust you or respect you. The rest of how we communicate is made up of our tone (accounting for 38%) and our spoken words (accounting for 7%) says Professor Albert Mehrabian, the author of Nonverbal Communication.
The Clothing Factor
Since what you wear plays such a crucial role in nonverbal communication and building your unique image, let’s take look at that in more detail.
When you dress well, you connect powerfully with people without having to say anything, allowing you to showcase the message you want to convey. Aside from this, the right clothing enhances our self-confidence, demonstrating our worth and care.
Likewise, it aids in attracting your tribe. Nonverbal markers such as the way we dress, emphasis who we are and identify us to like-minded people. So, disregard the remark "Who cares what I look like?" since your first concern should be dressing authentically for yourself, and using nonverbal indicators is an effective way to connect with others.
The Bottom Line
Always remember that fashion is an expression of appearance, while style is a reflection of who you are. Next time you wake up, consider who you are and how you want to express that in your attire.
Wearing something that gives you confidence, suits your body type, and is the perfect colour for your skin tone can help you make a great first impression. It helps express who you are and gives you the power to make the most of your nature.
London Forbes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
London Forbes is a fearless founder whose own journey of self-discovery illuminated the path to her success and her mission of helping others realise their own value and cultivate a strong personal brand and image. It is both an art and a science to cultivate and curate a successful image, and BYICON was born from this — a vision for authenticity, self-love, acceptance, and harnessing your most valuable asset, yourself, to cultivate a strong ROI.
