4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 1

What the partners of Leicestershire based 
Morgan Gleave Art & Design 
have learnt during 12 years of running a small business. 

Important 

This article is for people who are generally sociable but need a little help with new situations.  

This is NOT intended for those with deeper seated problems with socialising.  

For more information, the NHS has an excellent article on Social Anxiety Disorder you may wish to look at.

It is natural to be nervous when doing anything new.  New things are a challenge and challenges require courage.   It is easier to be courageous if you have a shield in place.

(Do get down.  Sitting on the photocopier pretending to be a knight is not big and it's not clever.)

Step 1:  Construct Your Shield

(I mean hypothetically, so you can put that drawing board back where it came from... Honestly!)

The shield in this instance is your outward appearance.  

It requires planning and effort but it is not difficult as long as you start well in advance of the event so that there are no last minute panics.  

There is nothing like a last minute panic to send you self-confidence into a downward spiral. 

Most of this is common sense but you may not have thought of some things.  In any event, it is always good to have a reminder.  Perhaps you could print this off and use as a check list.

Everything Applies to Everyone

That means EVERYTHING.  By all means reject the suggestion of, for example, grooming your eyebrows or men using makeup to even out skin tone, but pleeeeease think about it seriously first.

In the highly competitive world of business, do not let old-fashioned prejudices stop you giving yourself every advantage you can.

(Oh, stop fussing!  Being well groomed isn't silly, it's just showing respect for yourself.   Look at David Beckham, he'd not silly, is he?...   Please stop kicking your legs like that, it's dangerous in an office...  I don't care that you're a world famous footballer...  Yes I would!  Anyway, I expect David Beckham would have more sense that to behave like that!) 

A)  Ensure that you are well groomed. 

• Nails:  Clean, neat

• Hair:  Clean, trimmed.  Every time you visit the barbers or hairdressers, make another appointment for a few weeks time so that you never fail to 'get round to it'.

• Makeup:  Discreet and flattering.   

It is worth visiting large department stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams, visiting some of the quality make-up brands such as Liz Earle or Clarins and asking for advice. 

Some even give free makeovers.  Ring the store first to see what is available and remember to check that it is really free and that purchasing products is not a condition.  

For men who may not wish to visit stores, there is a lot online about imperceptible makeup for men.  You do not have to buy brands specifically aimed at men, any brand will do.  

  

• Facial hair:  Tidy eyebrows, Shave, trim beards and moustaches. 

 (Yes, if appropriate, you can ‘shove a cutter thing up your nose’ as you so tastefully put it.  That is quite enough of that! We would all prefer it if you stopped pretending to remove nasal hair with that pen.  Yuck!) 

Even this little poppet has to take care to groom his facial hair.

• Body:  Keep Clean.  Sounds obvious, but you only need to be in an air conditioned supermarket on a hot day to discover how many people forget the basic rules of body hygiene:  

• Wash/shower properly every day 

• Use deodorant and antiperspirant.  

Keep underarm hair very short or shaved to enable these to work

• Clean teeth at least twice a day, especially before a business or social event.

B)  Choose and Prepare Clothing

Generally speaking, clothes need to be smart, understated and fit properly.   

• No to:  'stripper shoes', short skirts, low cut tops, jeans, tee shirts, trainers, PVC wet look cat suits, woolly jumpers, latex Bermuda shorts, jogging bottoms...got the idea? 

• Yes to:  Suits and ties.  Smart trousers, skirts, shirts, blouses and jackets.   

Remember this is a guide only.  

It could be that your business, your culture or your personality dictate a certain style of dress, and the above suggestions are inappropriate. 

Nevertheless, think about your clothes and avoid rejecting all of the above suggestions just for the sake of it.  

Try to  find some middle ground.

C)  The Trimmings

• Shoes:  Clean, tidy, comfortable 

• Accessories:  Discrete jewellery, 'classy and not brassy'

• Bag:  Invest in a quality briefcase or business like bag or man bag, large enough to hold everything you require.  (No, a Poundland carrier bag is not appropriate even if it did cost 5p.  No.  Not even a Waitrose one.)

Irrelevant image to brighten things up

D)  Take time to...

• Make repairs

• launder, iron

• Dry clean suits, jackets and coats.  This is really important.  You may not notice an odour, but others will – ooooh, stinky poo!  

Coat looks good but it probably does not smell of roses..s

(Alright!  Alright! Get off the floor!  There's no need to overdo it.  Bloomin' drama queen...)

Finally, Just for Fun!

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” 

Mark Twain

Click Here for Step 2 which deals with planning and organising

Related Links:

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 2

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events :  Step 3

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 4

• 10 Things Not To Do at a Networking Event 

• 2 Easy Techniques to Calm and Relax You at (Almost) Anywhere and at Anytime.

Do you have any comments?

How about sharing this post?  

Perhaps you would like to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art & Design's Blog so that you can keep up to date with the bits and bobs we put up.

Morgan Gleave Art & Design is not responsible for the content of external sites