By Terri Payton, Aqua Blue Pools / tupayton@gmail.com
Do you want the latest secret on how to increase your pay without having to work longer hours? With a little pre-planning and some extra time in front of the mirror each morning you can easily increase your sales. Despite what we all see in the public today with tattoos, piercings and casual clothing, your appearance still weighs heavily in the sales process. In a sales transaction the pre-planning of your appearance and grooming is critical because you are judged almost immediately.
According to a Forbes Magazine article “These computations are made at lightning speed.” Researchers from NYU found that we make 11 major decisions about one another in the first seven seconds of a meeting. Surprisingly, the nonverbal cues weigh just as heavy as the verbal. Studies have shown nonverbal cues have more than four times the impact on the impression you make than anything you say. Given the fact that you may only meet your given prospect once or twice your appearance is crucial from the start. Many times you will not get a second chance!
I have noticed in our industry that many of my colleagues dress very casually because our work environment is outdoors and it is hot. That does not mean you need to look sloppy. You can still keep a business casual appearance which most consumers in Florida will respond to well. Simply dressing in clothes that are clean from stains, bleach marks or tears and are pressed will make a big difference. Think about when you are a consumer of a large ticket
item. How are the sales staff dressed? How do they appear? Doesn’t this help you trust them?
“The goal of a reputable business is to project a professional image that describes the nature of the business, its product and/or services and the people working in it. A goal of a professional image is to maintain the integrity of your brand and build credibility.” – Cynthia Bull, internationally published editor and writer, including a column called The Importance of a Professional Image.
So think about it tomorrow morning when you go to grab the first thing in your closet or drawer… People still judge a book by its cover! What does your “cover” say about you?
