When it comes to the way others think about you, before anything else, preparation is key to your success. If you want to be perceived as the superstar leader you are, the simple difference between being successful and failing is preparation. Because successful leaders avoid surprises for any price. On a daily base this means for your
There are many elements that make up your professional reputation. And some image consultants will tell you that the clothes you wear is the most important one. Well, this was probably true decades ago. Today's world moves faster and leaders face new challenges that go far beyond your wardrobe, the dress code, the handshake, the way
As a child, I watched a movie called "Momo", a German fantasy novel by Michael Ende. It’s about the concept of time and how it is used by humans in modern society. It’s a story about time-thieves and about Momo, the little girl who brought the stolen time back to the people. When the novel
From the many challenges men face at the workplace when it comes to their image and perception, this is probably the most hidden yet most powerful one. Because his "look" is so perfect on the outside, that others might sometimes question the quality of the inside (kind of the opposite of the Dwight Schrute challenge). I
Many of us have seen The Office. As brilliantly portrayed by Rainn Wilson, Dwight Schrute is one of the show’s most memorable characters. He’s a “weirdo.” He dresses weird, he behaves weird, he communicates weird. We recognize his character for his many flaws and idiosyncrasies: his lack of social skills or common sense, his love
When it comes to leadership we all face big challenges. But are they really always the same depending on the gender we are born with? Do men struggle the same way as women do, and do women sometimes struggle with the fact of not being part of the "men's club"? Possibly it might be the reason that
Chances are high you did not identify yourself as a Tinkerbell if you are interested in reading this blog post. Because "Office Tinkerbells" and "Office Kardashians" are somewhat the opposite. You know what I’m talking about. This type of woman requires no explanation. We all recognize her; she’s very intense in her tight dresses and
If you’re looking for a great ROI, nothing is going to beat to invest in yourself and in your professional imprint. Especially nowadays when so many people are struggling to find a job, let alone find opportunities for advancement, the returns of investing in yourself can be amazing. When did you invest in yourself the
In my book, The Image of Leadership, I discuss different challenges female and male leaders face often when it comes to their image and the way others perceive them. There are certain patterns, certain types of perceptions, certain stereotypes if you want, that I see more often than others. Some people are perceived as too serious and
While you’ve been reading this blog, you may be thinking about that loaded word, “stereotyping,” of which the dictionary definition is, “a conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image—one that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.”From very early in our life, one lesson, which we all learn is
