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Business Manager Self Empowerment Tips
Six skills and behaviors that will make
you appear more dynamic
1. Express your feelings
assertively. A vital tactic for appearing more dynamic is to express
your feelings in an open, constructive, and candid manner Visualize the
scenario of a staff meeting in which the participants are weighing the
pros and cons of a proposal. Most people make fact-oriented statements
such as, "I see some merit in this idea. It could be cost-effective in
the short range," or "This proposal has a lot of weaknesses. I doubt it
will bring about a suitable return on investment."
In contrast to the emotionally neutral statements just made, the dynamic
person will project feelings about the proposals. To exhibit personal
dynamism, make a statement such as, "Your proposed solution really
excites [great feeling word] me. The idea would pay for itself in no
time, and we would all be very proud [another great feeling word]. If
you disliked the proposal you might state: "This proposal has a lot of
weaknesses that really worry [a strong feeling word] me. It will most
likely backfire [a word that provokes feelings in others], and lose
money [an explicitly bad state of affairs]."
2. Use animated facial expressions. Facial blandness interferes with
appearing dynamic and selfdent. To exhibit personal dynamism, it is
essential to make frequent use of animated facial expressions. Use big
smiles, little smiles, expressions of delight, frowns, scowls, looks of
puzzlement and surprise, and reassuring nods. Animated facial
expressions are also useful for purposes of projecting leadership
characteristics.
To develop animated facial expressions, practice in front of a mirror or
a camcorder. Videotaping is slightly better than a mirror because many
people find it difficult to modify their facial expressions when looking
into a mirror. Think of various moods you want to project, and then do
your best to match your facial expression to the mood.
If you need some guidelines for matching facial expressions to your
mood, emulate television actors, actresses, newscasters, newsmakers,
and especially comedians. Or model a business person who you think has
effective facial expressions.
3. Talk with optimism.
Optimistic people, almost by definition, project an image of
self-confidence and dynamism. It will not be necessary to overhaul your
personality if you are naturally pessimistic. Nevertheless, you can
learn to keep some of your pessimistic thoughts to yourself and search
for optimistic comments to fit each situation. When you have struggled
through a rough assignment and finally completed it, talk about how you
have benefited from the experience and will do even better next time.
When you have barely met your quota, don't apologize. Talk positively
about how you over
accomplish your goals.
A key facet of projecting o is to look for the positives in what
other people perceive to a negative event. Keep these examples in mind:
.:. You are the sales manager and sales have just plunged to a ten-year
low. Instead of belaboring the misery, say: "We have finally hit
bottom. From now on we can expect an upturn. My plans for a turnaround
will be completed by next Monday."
.:. You are an administrative assistant and your boss is castigating you
for having furnished her a report that was badly flawed. In a
non apologetic manner you say, "It is unfortunate that my report did not
accomplish all it was intended to do. However, I've profited from the
experience. I now have a clear picture of what you want in my next
report."
.:. You are the company controller and your year-end analysis reveals
that the company lost $350,000 for the year. Knowing that your boss
likes to trample bearers of bad news, you point out: "We just missed our
break-even point last year by $350,000. However, with just a 2 percent
increase in market share we would have been in the black."
4. Look and act powerful. An
indispensable part of projecting personal dynamism is to look and act
powerful. Looking powerful is more subtle than would appear on the
surface. If you take literally the advice of wardrobe consultants, you
will look like a sales associate in a posh retail store or like a young
professional in most metropolitan offices. On the other hand, if you
ignore conventional wisdom about looking powerful you risk looking
unimportant and lacking dynamism in the eyes of others. Specific ways
of increasing your power look include:
a. Dress with panache by adding a unique flair to your
dress-for-success look, including carrying a luxury fountain pen, an
expensive watch, or a thick silk tie or scarf. Opulent earrings and cuff
links also add to panache, as does a freshly cleaned leather attaché
case .
b. Decorate your office with stainless steel, leather, and polished
glass. Leave all family photos, mementos, and souvenirs home .
c. Hair should be short for males with no sideburns or beard; it
should be short and away from the face for females.
d. On occasion, when standing, place hands on hip and place your feet
apart about 18 inches .
e. For emphasis when speaking, point the index finger parallel to the
ground, and thumb at a right angle similar to aiming a gun.
5.Move and act purposefully.
People who stride through the workplace as if they have an urgent
purpose in mind project personal dynamism. Management consultant James
R. Boehlert observes that corporate officers, for example, move and act
purposefully even when they're passing through a lobby. He provides an
anecdote in support of his conclusion:
A few years ago I was standing in the lobby of an office building in
Manhattan, waiting for a luncheon appointment. Waiting with me was a
broadcast executive. We were making idle conversation and watching the
flow of people in and out of the elevators. She turned to me and said,
"I'll bet I can pick out every vice president who comes into this lobby.
I can tell because they look like vice presidents."
She said she would show me what a vice president looks like. Turning to
the bank of elevators, she studied the passersby for a moment and then
said, "Here comes one now." She indicated a man in his late thirties, of
average height and medium build, dressed in a dark suit, walking
briskly toward us. As he came close to us he slowed to wait his turn
through the revolving door.
I decided to take the opportunity to put my companion's claim to the
test. I said to him, "My friend and I have made a bet, and I wonder if
you could help us?"
"What's the bet," he asked without surprise or hesitation.
"My friend has bet that you are a vice president."
He laughed lightly and said, "Nope, wrong guess." AS, he turned back to
the revolving door my friend asked, "Do you mind telling us what your
position is?"
"Not at all. I'm a chief corporate counsel." With that he turned and
passed through the door.3
6. Use a firm handshake. Of
no surprise, a firm handshake continues to be perceived by many people
as a key indicator of self-confidence and dynamism. Gilda Carle, an
image consultant, turned down a commercial artist whom she sought out to
prepare advertising flyers for her company. Carle rejected him because
"his handshake did not project the energy I wanted to have projected in
my flyers." If your handshake is limp, you can strengthen your grip over
time by daily use of an exercise spring. Frequent manual labor will also
toughen your grip.
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