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Imagine the following scenarios… You walk into a networking event for the first time and you find that what you are wearing is totally different from everyone else in the room rsspect.org How do you feel? You get introduced to someone who is wearing a tatty suit, crumpled shirt and dirty shoes ambafrance-kwt.org What judgements do you make? You start talking to someone and then realise that a button on your shirt has burst revealing more than you had intended acblcrusaders.com How does this impact upon the conversation you are now having? All of these are real scenarios you may have faced already and perhaps highlight some important factors we should consider when choosing our attire when business networking. My business networking tips are derived from some of the terrible mistakes business people make with their clothing when they are out networking. OK so I’ll start with my own mistakes…and I hate to say there are a few. The first one was going to a networking event and wondered why the guy I was talking to wasn’t looking me in the eye…half an hour later it finally clicked… a ‘popped button’ on my shirt revealing a little more undergarment than intended. The second was wearing a new dress which developed more ‘give’ when worn for more than 10 minutes leaving me baring rather more flesh than I would have liked adslcomparativa.com Is this why the guy I was talking to invited me to lunch? The third was when I was proudly strutting towards someone in my new and very glam heels only to lose my concentration, trip, and go flying into a group of people I didn’t know. The fourth (and this has happened a few times) wearing clothes I haven’t felt comfortable or confident in leaving me worrying more about my appearance than concentrating on networking. And finally…(and definitely the most embarrassing)… agenciapop.com is standing up making a presentation in a networking meeting when all I could feel was this weird sensation on my legs as my ‘hold up’ stockings failed to ‘hold up.’ Boy, how every second felt like an hour, and my relief at being able to take my seat had never been so great andresamadeus.com I have avoided ‘hold ups’ ever since but equally my success with stockings and suspenders has never been great either with stocking tops gradually revealed beneath the hem of my dress. There are a number of lessons to be learned from these incidents whether you are a man or woman aonemexico.com So here's the business networking advice:- Be clear on why you are at the networking event – you’re there to build your business not to pick up a hot date Check out the code of dress beforehand so you know what others are likely to be wearing and ensure your clothes are appropriate for the event you are attending – if the event is a more formal one ensure you are dressed accordingly Dress to portray the image you want to project. If you want to project a smart image then dress smartly. If you have a more hands on trade such as a building company then dressing in a suit may not be necessary. Wear clothes you feel good in – ones that make you feel confident – this way you will look more confident and your focus on attention will be on networking rather than feeling discomfort about your appearance. You may want to use the services of an image consultant who can help you understand what clothes look good on you. Wear clothes and shoes which are comfortable. If you are prone to increased perspiration in a stressful situation choose looser fitting tops made of natural fibres which won’t reveal tell-tale perspiration stains under the arms. Test drive any clothes beforehand and like any business networking relationship only use those you know you know, like and trust!
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