Summer’s Over – Time to Get Serious

By Brian Maynor

 

Since it’s already Labor Day weekend, now is the time to regain focus on work and buckle down on some personal habits that may have loosened over the summer.

Whether you’re working toward a promotion, simply looking for more responsibilities to prove you’re a leader or looking for a new job start this new season off on the right foot with a quick personal assessment.

Here are a few of the top behaviors that read as amateur and therefore going to undermine your advancement goals:

Being late.   This isn’t just about arriving at work on time; it has to do with every deadline on your schedule including meetings, phone calls, project updates and even emails.  When you’re late you look careless, disrespectful, unreliable, and self-centered, all qualities guaranteed to end your advancement before it even begins.

Lapses in etiquette.  Whether it’s lunch with your boss, introductions at a meeting or jokes with a colleague you should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or worse offended, and that’s exactly what poor manners do.  Not only that, you come across as awkward, rude and simply uncouth.  If you don’t know the proper protocol for a situation, simply remember the number one rule of etiquette:  making others feel at ease.

Limited perspective.  We don’t live or work in a vacuum, so an immediate cue someone is not the professional they claim to be is a limited, self-centered point of view.  True professionals understand how life and work fit into the bigger picture on multiple levels and continuously exhibit that understanding.  While remaining within your limited sphere of influence may feel empowering, it’s actually quite the opposite.

Overly emotional.  Everyone has emotions; the difference is that a professional knows how to manage them while amateurs let them take control.  Not only are angry outbursts, tears and sulking inappropriate in the workplace, they cause you to appear irrational and unpredictable.  Tough conversations are going to happen, but don’t let your emotions overrun your senses.  That doesn’t mean suppress them either.  Find a productive way to channel them or a private place to vent them.  The choice is yours.

Disorganized.  Simply because you know where everything is doesn’t mean you’re organized.  Piles of papers, stacks of folders and sticky notes everywhere do not give the impression you’re on top of things.  People find chaos and disorder untrustworthy, unreliable and infectious.  Keeping your space clean and orderly will not only keep you looking professional, it will actually give you a greater sense of control, which helps when things get stressful.

No matter what job you have, no one wants to look like an amateur.  Fortunately you don’t have to.  By tweaking these few points you can immediately up your professional game, even if you’re still learning as you go.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.