How you look is not measured only by what you wear. It is easy to put on clothes to make you look like the person you want to be. You can dress in business clothes to look professional, exercise clothes to look fit, or casual clothes to look relaxed, but what you wear is only part of the equation.
In addition to what you wear, how you project your face and attitude is just as important. It may be even more important.
The simple truth is that people judge you by the way you look. Your parents probably told you at some point that life isn’t fair. This is one of those times. It may not be right, but how you look is in indicator that says a lot about you. Most of how you look is what your face and attitude says about you.
You may have a very good reason to have a face of distress or a bad attitude. As humans, events in our lives affect how we feel and then how we look. But your awareness and your ability to change how your face looks is what makes all the difference.
I missed a flight connection recently and I am sure my face showed that I was stressed. As upset as I was, I needed help from the airline’s customer service counter. I thought “does anyone want to help someone who looks stressed or angry?” I changed my attitude. What happened was in the past and now I need to move forward. I was a genuinely pleasant and happy as I could be. I changed my look. I believe I got better service because I choose to be pleasant in an obviously disappointing situation.
Ask yourself right now “how do I look?” Look in the mirror if you have to. Do you look serious, angry, upset, distracted, stressed, or uninterested? If so, make a decision to turn it around right now. Decide to be happy and cheerful? You may tell you self that you can’t but you can if you really want to make your situation better. You will be more effective because people will want to interact with you.
When has your face or attitude
gotten in your way of being effective?
Who have you avoided because of how
they looked (in their face or attitude)?
No doubt Chris. Human interaction and the way we are viewed trumps everything else.
Well said Jeff. Thanks for your comment.