IMAGE: IT STARTS WITH YOUR APPEARANCE
For better or worse, all of us are judged, to some degree at least, by our appearance. And, whether we want to admit it or not, most of us base our own judgments on appearance too. True, once we get to know somebody well, our impressions become based on more meaningful criteria, but the problem in business is that many of the people we deal with we see only now and then. This is particularly the case with accountants. If you are working for a CPA firm, for instance, you probably see many clients three or four times a year, so you need to ask yourself whether you are making a strong enough and favorable enough impression.
Research more than bears out the relationship between your appearance and how people perceive you. Studies by psychologist Ellen Berscheid, an expert in the psychology of attractiveness, for instance, show that if people consider you attractive, they are also likely to consider you kind, genuine, sincere, and interesting. Another set of studies have shown that if you are a male executive who stands over 6 feet 2 inches tall, you probably earn a 12% higher salary than a man under 6 feet.
Granted, your height is something you cannot do anything about, but there are many aspects of your appearance over which you have a great deal of control. The way you dress, the way you carry yourself, the way you speak: in short, the image you generate whenever you are with other people.
The relationship between the image you project and career success in business is such that numerous companies nationwide specialize in telling businessmen and businesswomen how to get the most out of their appearance.
How you dress will depend largely on the sort of firm you work for and the region of the country in which you live, but in most cases you will be expected to dress in a conservative and businesslike style. Most firms like to see their men in dark, traditionally styled suits and their women in tailored suits and dresses.
Regardless of the guidelines that prevail in your particular company or firm, the basic rule for you to keep in mind is this: everything in your wardrobe should, in one way or another, enhance your image. Everything you wear, in other words, should make you appear substantial, educated, trustworthy, and confident—all the qualities necessary for success.
For men—things to keep in mind include the fit and tailoring of a suit; accessories such as ties, belts, shoes and socks—which should be of high quality material, complimentary colors/hues and match the rest of the outfit.
For women—things to keep in mind include suits and shirts that are figure flattering, but not too revealing. When it comes to accessories such as shoes and jewelry, high quality is essential and simplicity is key.
BEYOND YOUR WARDROBE
Your appearance involves more than what you wear. You can spend a small fortune on your wardrobe, but your appearance will still suffer if you neglect your grooming, your complexion, and your general physical shape.
YOUR FACE
The main thing to be said is that you should be comfortable with the way you look. However, the one thing that anyone can benefit from is good dental work because if there is anything you want to feel confident about, it is your smile.
For men—a fresh-shaven look is preferable, as it gives the appearance of being more put together and professional.
For women— although heavy make-up is not advised, basics go a long way— foundation, blush, mascara and lipstick is all you need.
YOUR HAIR
Numerous studies have shown that your hair affects the image people have of you as much as anything else about your appearance.
Whatever hairstyle you choose, make sure it is one that works best for your features and your type of hair. Do not be hesitant about spending a few extra dollars for a barber or a stylist who can give you the best look. Your hair should always be clean and well-kept.
For women—it is suggested to have a style that does not cover the face; if you are interested in coloring your hair, hues should be kept a natural.
For men—facial hair is up for debate. Although moustaches and beards are not necessarily looked down upon, it ultimately depends on how you wear the look and carry yourself.
DONT FORGET YOUR NAILS
For men and women alike, make sure that your nails are always clean and well shaped and that your cuticles are pushed back and trimmed. For women—a majority wears polish; it is best to stick with neutral and classic colors.
YOUR PHYSICAL SHAPE
It is not expected for accountants to have the physique of an Olympic athlete, however most highly successful accountants radiate a sense of fitness and energy, and any numbers of studies indicate that the kind of physical shape you are in has a direct bearing on your career progress.
Over and over again, studies have shown, that all things being equal, an obese person is much less likely to be hired than a non-obese person. Apart from what it does to enhance your appearance and your health, a regular fitness activity also gives you a built-in means of expanding your contacts and of dealing with the pressures inherent in accounting.
YOUR IMAGE: OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Your appearance encompasses factors that go beyond the way you look and dress.
The car you drive, the kind of stationery you use, the design of your business card, the message you put on your telephone answering machine—all of it contributes to your image, and none of it should be taken for granted.
If you are visiting an out-of-town client, stay at a hotel that reflects an image of success. Again, there is a cost factor to consider, but the difference between the truly first-rate hotels and the typical businesspersons’ hotel usually is not too substantial and seems to be well worth the difference.
Most successful executives have several restaurants they frequent and are well known at—they will usually go to these restaurants when they are entertaining clients.
When you are out of town, it is not as easy to become known at the better restaurants, but you might consider dropping by the restaurant in person to make your reservation, to choose the table you want, and to give the maître-d’hôtel your card, along with a tip.
One more thing to think about when you are taking clients out to dinner and driving a car is to tip the parking attendant a little extra in advance in order to get a spot that will enable you to get your car immediately.
CONCLUSION
Appearance and image are not the foundation of success, however all the details that go into creating and sustaining a respectable image is crucial to your overall opportunity and prosperity as an accountant.
Image Source: Freepik.com
