FIRST IMPRESSIONS!
OOZE PROFESSIONALISM!...
ACT PROFESSIONAL...
THINK PROFESSIONAL...
MODEL PROFESSIONALS...
SPEAK PROFESSIONAL...
DRESS PROFESSIONAL...
It is absolutely imperative that your customer perceive you as a professional.
Did that message come through clear by any chance?...uh, ok, you heard me.
Great! A First Impression will be made within the first few seconds of
meeting you (according to my research you only have 3 seconds) and
your customer will already have an opinion of you.
First your visual appearance is assessed, from your hair right down to your shoes...
and those little accessories you wear, they're picked-up on the radar scan too.
Your customer processes a bundle of questions in this short few seconds
and makes a snapcracky assessment based on these..."are you trendy",
"are you old fashioned", "are you well groomed", "are you professional" then,
your mannerisms and behavior are studied. They are looking at specific gestures.
Are you smiling, therefore warm, friendly and inviting, or do your facial expressions
speak frustration from something else that was going on minutes before
this customer entered your office? Your body language, are your arms crossed
at your waist, sending a closed communication message or is your hand eagerly
presented to greet your customer? If this customer is back on a return visit
to see you, a gentle gesture with your hand to motion them to sit in a chair
is as inviting as a handshake (coupled with a warm hello and smile, of course).
IMAGE! In the business manager/F & I manager position, you are
probing into people's personal lives, you are snooping around in their
financial matters. Some people are very uncomfortable to speak about
their finances to ANYBODY. For men, wear a suit and tie, be well pressed!
If you want to add some personality to your wardrobe, play with
shirt colors and ties. If you are ever unsure of a combination you
are wearing, ask someone you work with or one of your friends or
family members that you consider well-dressed and who you can trust
to be honest with you. For ideas, browse through current magazines
and see what is in style. Women, you have sex appeal whether you
want to or not just because you are a woman, no need to exaggerate it
here. Keep those dresses and skirts to no more than three inches
above the knee to mid-calf and stay away from bulging or overexposed
cleavage! If your personal flavor is to have low-cut necklines,
wear something underneath to cover the exposure while you are at work.
You may appeal to the male customer and he may be drooling all over
his elbow perched on your desk but hold on here, when his wife or
significant other shows up, you are done! If you are getting good
sales averages per unit using sex appeal, you will get amazing
sales averages with professionalism, that's a fact! Sexual overtones
are to be kept OUTSIDE the professional world! NO EXCEPTIONS!
For both men and women, shoes are vital. Be certain they are
polished, look fresh, no broken threads, and women, keep those
lifts on your heels new! There is nothing that sounds cheaper
than a woman's clickety-click from a worn heel lift.
Professionalism implies a high caliber of standards.
Be absolutely certain that your first impression is a professional one.
There is no quick cure for reversing this very important first few seconds.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS PERMANENT!!!!
This Blog is Committed and Dedicated to Your Success!
ACT PROFESSIONAL...
THINK PROFESSIONAL...
MODEL PROFESSIONALS...
SPEAK PROFESSIONAL...
DRESS PROFESSIONAL...
It is absolutely imperative that your customer perceive you as a professional.
Did that message come through clear by any chance?...uh, ok, you heard me.
Great! A First Impression will be made within the first few seconds of
meeting you (according to my research you only have 3 seconds) and
your customer will already have an opinion of you.
First your visual appearance is assessed, from your hair right down to your shoes...
and those little accessories you wear, they're picked-up on the radar scan too.
Your customer processes a bundle of questions in this short few seconds
and makes a snapcracky assessment based on these..."are you trendy",
"are you old fashioned", "are you well groomed", "are you professional" then,
your mannerisms and behavior are studied. They are looking at specific gestures.
Are you smiling, therefore warm, friendly and inviting, or do your facial expressions
speak frustration from something else that was going on minutes before
this customer entered your office? Your body language, are your arms crossed
at your waist, sending a closed communication message or is your hand eagerly
presented to greet your customer? If this customer is back on a return visit
to see you, a gentle gesture with your hand to motion them to sit in a chair
is as inviting as a handshake (coupled with a warm hello and smile, of course).
IMAGE! In the business manager/F & I manager position, you are
probing into people's personal lives, you are snooping around in their
financial matters. Some people are very uncomfortable to speak about
their finances to ANYBODY. For men, wear a suit and tie, be well pressed!
If you want to add some personality to your wardrobe, play with
shirt colors and ties. If you are ever unsure of a combination you
are wearing, ask someone you work with or one of your friends or
family members that you consider well-dressed and who you can trust
to be honest with you. For ideas, browse through current magazines
and see what is in style. Women, you have sex appeal whether you
want to or not just because you are a woman, no need to exaggerate it
here. Keep those dresses and skirts to no more than three inches
above the knee to mid-calf and stay away from bulging or overexposed
cleavage! If your personal flavor is to have low-cut necklines,
wear something underneath to cover the exposure while you are at work.
You may appeal to the male customer and he may be drooling all over
his elbow perched on your desk but hold on here, when his wife or
significant other shows up, you are done! If you are getting good
sales averages per unit using sex appeal, you will get amazing
sales averages with professionalism, that's a fact! Sexual overtones
are to be kept OUTSIDE the professional world! NO EXCEPTIONS!
For both men and women, shoes are vital. Be certain they are
polished, look fresh, no broken threads, and women, keep those
lifts on your heels new! There is nothing that sounds cheaper
than a woman's clickety-click from a worn heel lift.
Professionalism implies a high caliber of standards.
Be absolutely certain that your first impression is a professional one.
There is no quick cure for reversing this very important first few seconds.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS PERMANENT!!!!
This Blog is Committed and Dedicated to Your Success!
Oh, How true, couldn't agree more! Thanks for thinking and actually writing it!
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