Professional Practice 

Week 05 (16/05/2022) ​

This week I attended a talk on personal branding by Elizabeth Hor. The talk has given me quite a few topics to think and learn from. One of which is the 5 strategies to personal branding. Appearance, Behavior, Communication, Digital Impression, Emotional Performance are the five points that was discussed about as the few stating steps to creating one's own brand.

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Until this talk, never would I have ever thought of how the colors of our wardrobe would affect the employers impression on us. When going for an interview, we were told that it is better to go for a more low contrast choice of wardrobe as higher contrast types of clothing may cause a person (the employer/interviewer) to feel threatened by us. If ever a person aims to go for a promotion, they could try slowly transitioning to a higher contrast choice of attire. The reasons for these are that with higher contrast attire (eg: dark blue, navy, etc.) it is seen as someone who's more serious, someone who's more leader-like or wants to be taken seriously. Lower contrast clothing are for ones who is seen as a support, someone who is easy to talk to. Other than colors, patterns and prints on clothing may also affect one's impression. It is encouraged that excessive prints such as polka dots or floral patterns are avoided when in a working space as those visuals may make a person seem more childish, which is a bad for a person's reputation in work. All in all, the way one dresses may impact people's views and impressions of that person.

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Furthermore, greetings and mannerism is of course an important part in working culture. Its quite an implied rule that when a guest visits, they are put as the top priority and is regarded as a higher hierarchy on the building. The reasons for this being guests are put as the more important person in the building as a sign of respect. 

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This is not usually spoken of or normally taught to us but during a meeting there will always be a seating protocol. During meetings, people are expected to know where they should sit based on their rankings. Newer or lower ranked people are sat closer to the door or meeting board. Higher ranking people such as the CEOs or such are sat furthest from the door or meeting board. Keep in mind that their backs never face the windows or doors. This gives them better view of everything that is going on in the room.

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To wrap this up, that's most of what was talked about during the few hours during that time. I find the talk to be quite interesting and learned quite a lot from it. I've had new knowledge on how and why things work that certain way and had questions finally answered. It was quite an experience that helped me open my eyes to the world more.

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