Self Grooming and impact on personality

7/29/2019 Self Grooming and impact on personality

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A study on self grooming and impression management

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree ofBachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

To

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi

Guide - Submitted By-

Dr. Sushmita Name - Divyanshu Khurana

Roll. No. - 09590301712

Institute of Innovation in Technology and Management,

New Delhi110058Batch (2012-2015)


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CONTENTS

S NO. TOPIC PAGE NO.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Advantages of self grooming

Positive first impression

Positive Grooming Standard (Business Attire)

Image and Self-Projection

Perceptions Promotions

Avoid distractions

Appropriate wardrobe for Different working

Environments

2

5-14

15

16

17-22

23

24-25

26

27-29


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10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

Mens interview attire back to basics

Womens interview attire Fit in, dont stand out!

Business casual

Casual Business attire guidelines

Codes of Dress (other than business)

Mistakes in business apparel

Putting it all together

Final thoughts on apparel

Bibliography

30-32

33-35

36-37

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40-41

42

43

44

45


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Chapter 1: Introduction

What is self grooming and impression management?

In today's world of globalization and highly competitive business world, success is not

just about academic accomplishments, technical skills and experience. Our self

confidence in expressing our attitude, competence, credibility, professionalism and status

together with a good self esteem and self image of our self is extremely vital in giving us

that extra edge when it matters most. Therefore, developing our self confidence and self

esteem by improving our personal image through good personal grooming & social

etiquette can help us compete successful in this highly competitive environment.

Self grooming also referred to as personal hygiene is the act of taking care of our body

through proper cleanliness and self-care. Personal grooming not only affects the way

others see us, but also has an impact on how we feel about our self. When we look and

feel our best we are able to present our self confidently with others.

Self grooming is important for a positive self-image and every effort should be made to

encourage and assist the resident to maintain a pleasing and attractive appearance.

Now moving towards impression management we see that although people can manage

impressions of almost anything (e.g., a clothing brand, a political position, etc.), people

most commonly manage the impressions others form of themselves, a sub-type of

impression management that is often termed self-presentation. Definition of impression

management states that Impression management refers to the activity of controlling

information in order to steer others opinions in the service of personal or social goals.

Impression management is the way people influence how others think about something


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else, usually themselves. People usually do this either to get something they want from

others or to establish an independent identity. There are several different means of doing

this, which include things like controlling the flow of information in a relationship,

mimicking others, and masking body language. Impression management can be used to

help shape what people think of politicians, corporations, and brands, among other things.

The idea that perception is reality is the basis for this sociological and social psychology

theory which is framed around the presumption that the others perceptions of you or

your organization become the reality from which they form ideas and the basis for

intended behaviors. Impression management (IM) theory states that any individual or

organization must establish and maintain impressions that are congruent with the

perceptions they want to convey to their publics.

The objective of this project is to study the impact of self grooming on impression

management.


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Chapter 2: Self grooming

Self Grooming is probably the most important thing in every field. It may be in the field

of business, designing, an executive at a corporate office, teachers or even in restaurants.

Personal grooming not only means looking neat and good but includes everything that

makes you more sophisticated. In business, you are dressing to have an impact on your

bosses and teammates. If yourclothes dont convey the message that you are competent,

able, ambitious, self-confident, reliable, and authoritative, nothing you say or do will

overcome the negative signals emanating from your apparel. Now the question arises that

what is the need for self grooming? Why is it important? There are many reasons for slef

grooming which are explained below.

Reasons for personal grooming:-

a) Our physical appearance is the first impression that people have of who we are.Choosing to ignore common personal grooming habits may indicate to those

around us that are not detail oriented; that we do not take pride in our work

because we don't take pride in our appearance; or that er are not someone who

desires to be taken seriously. Just as curb appeal is important in marketing a home

for sale, our image is what helps "sell" us to potential employers, members of the

opposite sex, peers and any other groups of people you come in contact with. Our

resume may tell the story of a highly educated and accomplished individual, but if

our appearance and cleanliness don't follow suit then you put yourself at a

disadvantage, possibly missing out on opportunities for advancement at work and

fulfillment in personal relationships.


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b) Poor grooming can indicate to others that we lack self-esteem. In turn, presentingour self at less-than-our-best contributes to further declines in how we feel about

our self, creating a vicious cycle of poor self-image and discomfort in social

settings.

Self grooming essential s:-

To put our best foot forward, these basics of personal hygiene will help to increase

our self-esteem and give us more success in our interactions with others.

Shower or bathe frequently, either daily or every other day. Use body soap to cleanse

the all-over surface of your skin, paying special attention to areas that tend to get

sweaty and hold odor, and shampoo/condition your hair. Use anti-per

spirant/deodorant each day after showering to cut down on body odor.

For men, shave or trim your facial hair neatly every day or every couple of days

depending on how fast your hair grows. Trim nose and ear hair monthly. For women,

shave your armpits and leg hair two to three times a week.

Keep your hair trimmed for a healthy appearance and avoid hairstyles or hair colors

that are shocking or unprofessional (such as a mohawk, bright unnatural colors or

stripes).

Wear clothing that is clean, in good repair and wrinkle-free. Avoid clothing that

shows excessive cleavage or that is too tight. Cover your tattoos, if possible. Avoid

wearing clothing with offensive images or wording.


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Limit your use of perfume or cologne so as not to overpower those around you. Do

not attempt to use fragrances to cover body odor caused by lack of hygiene.

Keep your hands and fingernails clean and trimmed.

Remember that excessive body jewelry, piercings and ear plugs can have a negative

effect in how you are perceived by others. Brush and floss your teeth three times a

day and use mouthwash for extra freshening. Have your teeth cleaned professionally

once every six months.

Self grooming may seem like a matter of individual preference, but how we present

our self can have a significant impact on our life. Whether we are interested in

attracting a member of the opposite sex or making a good impression in the

workforce, good personal grooming is essential. Now below are a few things to be

kept in mind for self grooming.

Self grooming & clothingMen

1. Shaving daily is a must. If you want to keep a moustache or beard, it should beneat and well trimmed.

2. Trim hair which may frequently peep out from your nose and ears.3. Keep your hair way above your collar and keep side burns trimmed and short.4. Your hairstyle should reflect your personality and should be kept groomed and,

of course, clean at all times.

5. Keep nails short and clean, as your hands are seen while communicating.6. When it comes to wearing a fragrance, always remember a little dab is just

enough.


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7. Use deodorant / Anti per spirant8. Opt for one that smells fresh and tingly, nothing to heavy in aroma. Steer clear

from strong fruity or spicy smells for work.

9. Darker suits carry more authority; the most powerful colors are dark blue, greyand black.

10. Solid colors and pinstripes are best, as long as pinstripes are muted and narrow.11. Safari suits are not formal.12. The shirt should be light colored, either plain or with horizontal or vertical stripes

in light shades

13.Loud and big checks and Prints of any kind are to be avoided.14.A long-sleeved shirt should always be buttoned at the cuffs and never rolled up.15. White, off white, blue, cream, beige, baby pink, pale n light yellow are the best

office colors.

16.Always wear an ironed shirt, even if the shirt claims to be "wash and wear."17.When wearing long-sleeved shirts, cuffs should extend a quarter inch below suit

sleeve.

18.Cotton/polyester blends are acceptable. The higher the cotton content, the betteryou'll look.

19.The legs of the trousers must not be so long as to fall in folds over the shoe.20.Trousers should be short enough to look neat and long enough to cover the bare

skin above the socks when they are hitched up in a sitting posture

21.A printed, striped or checked shirt ought to be worn with plain trouser. 22.If the trousers are striped or checked, the shirt should be plain.


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23.If the trousers are of dark color then the shirt should be of complimentary lightcolor. e.g. a light blue shirt with dark blue trousers.

24.When wearing a shirt without a tie, only the two collar buttons may be leftundone.

25.Your tie should compliment and add color to your suit.26.Width should be approximately the same as lapels, generally 2 -3 inches

wide.

27.Linen wrinkles too easily. satin ties are too flashy , but 100 percent silk ties makethe most powerful and professional impact and are also the easiest to tie.

28.Front end of the tie should touch the tip of the belt and back end tucked in well.29.Avoid ties with cartoons, huge flowers etc.30.Black and brown leather are the best colors.

Accessories

1. Jewelry should be very simple and conservative. Nothing more than a weddingband, and a single, very fine gold chain is acceptable.

2. Briefcases should be leather; brown and black are the best colors.3. Watches should be simple and plain. Avoid leather, metal straps are the best.4. Belts should be leather and should match or complement shoes (blue/black/gray

suit = black belt and shoes; brown/tan/beige suit = brown belt and shoes). The

buckle should be simple and sober.

5. Tie pins and cuff links add to your professional demeanor, so use them.


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Self grooming & clothingWomen

1. Avoid Chunky, jangling jewelry, bangles, anklets or anything which createssound. This also includes dupattas with bells etc on them.

2. Your shirts collar, cuffs should be clean and there should be no missing buttons3. Keep your nails clean and polished.4. When choosing nail varnish color, choose colors which are light, neutral and

closer to your skin color. Bright colors like red, green, blue, purple are absolutely

a no.

5. Ensure your breath is Fresh and clean. There should be no odor from the mouth. Ifyou are prone to bad breath, consult a dentist and gargle with mouthwash

frequently, especially after eating.

6. Preferably use lipsticks in matt shades. Use a lip liner to outline our lips beforeyou fill in your lips with lipstick. When outlining your lips, stick to the natural

curves of your lips. The lip liner should be a shade darker or the same shade as the

lipstick. Lipsticks shades to be worn at work should be light in color and not dark

shades. The shades should be natural in color rather than bright and dark. Light

pinks, light browns and skin tones are appropriate

7. Pick the Right perfume: Ideally, perfume is never to be worn at work. What youcan use however is cologne, body sprays/ mists, and deodorants etc.

8. Whilst selecting cologne, opt for one that smells fresh and tingling, nothing toheavy in aroma. Steer clear from strong fruity or spicy smells for work.

9. Use deodorant / Anti per spirant10.Wear long lasting make-up


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11.If you like wearing saris it is advisable to wear chiffon, georgette or cottonhandloom ones during summer and pure silks in winter, they impart a

sophisticated image.

12.Sari should be worn neatly in a professional style.13.Handloom saris need to be starched and ironed well otherwise they drape

unflatteringly on your body with numerous unsightly creases.

14.Pin the sari well so that it does not fall15.Put the pin on the back shoulder as this keeps the sari intact and does not show the

pin too.

16.Have Small prints rather than large in saris. Plain and bordered saris are muchbetter. Loud colors, double shaded saris should be avoided.

17.No cut sleeves blouse, or plunging neck lines should be worn.18.Traditional salwar kameez with dupatta can be worn.19.Do not match Indian and western clothes.20.Always carry a clean hanky.21.Never wear loud shocking colors, clinging or short skirts, Trousers without a

jacket and see through fabrics.

22.A skirt worn should be no more than an inch high above your knee. Full- lengthA line skirts also can be worn. With a short skirt, stockings are a must.

23.If you have long hair, never keep it untied, pull it back from your face and tie it upin a French roll or a good old-fashioned bun at the nape of your neck.

24.Hair should preferably be styled and cut to shoulder length, or shorter. It makesyou look neat and professional. With a sari, a bun at the nape of the neck, is ideal.


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25.For business wear, shoe/boots/heel styles must be closed-toe and closed-heel .Nostrappy sandals or slippers please. Open toed shoes are acceptable if they have a

business look. No sequin work, just plain simple leather footwear works best for

sandals.

26.Heel height should not be too high or low. 2 inch heel is ideal27.Nicked heels, scruffy toes, or unpolished footwear scream failure.28.Never wear golden, silver or sequined shoes to the office.29.Its always better, that your socks are of same color as the trousers as it gives a

polished look as there is no break in vision

30.Never wear white socks to office31.Dress for comfort and professional effect.

Accessories

1. Pearls, white gold, silver and precious stones look very elegant in office thanchunky gold jewelry.

2. Bangles or Kadhas which do not jingle with Indian dresses and a fine braceletwith western dress can be worn to work.

3. Earrings should not dangle below the ear lobe. No more than an inch in length isacceptable.

4. Nose pins and studs are acceptable. Nose rings are unprofessional.5. All tattoos must be covered while at work.6. Always wear sheer socks/ stockings with shoes under skirts. No bare skin should

show.

7. Match the color of your purse and shoes.


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8. Have good quality accessories like a folder, briefcase, handbag, watch, mobile,mobile cover, Key chain.

There are various advantages of self grooming which can make or improve our image in

front of our superiors and bosses.

Advantages of self-grooming

Look Good, Feel Good

Feeling good has a lot to do with our appearance, and a neatly groomed

appearance certainly DOES boost self-esteem. It may not be the most crucial

factor affecting self-esteem, but it is a important because it bulwarks confidence.

Good Personal Grooming I ncreases Conf idence

When a man/woman looks in the mirror and sees a well-groomed person looking

back, he or she will stand straighter and walk with assurance and confidence

through the rest of the day.

Self grooming depicts our professionali sm

When someone meets you for the first time he first sees how well you are

groomed or how tidy you are and thus he can form a good or bad perception about

you solely from your appearance.

Positive Grooming Standard (Business Attire)

The way we dress speaks volumes about who we are as a person and as a business

communicator. Let's face it, clothes talk. Whenever we enter a room for the first time, it


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takes only a few seconds for people we have never met to form perceptions about us and

our abilities. We don't have to utter a word; people peg us one way if we are dressed in

jeans and a T-shirt, slacks and a sports coat, and yet another if we are wearing a bow tie

and suit. Regardless of who we really are, our clothes and body language always speak

first. The business attire for men and women is discussed as under.

Business Attire for Men: 6-10 Points

1. Shirt

- Light color, plain or soft patterned.

- Long sleeve; make sure the sleeve length is just below the wrist bone.

- Do not put anything in your chest pocket, not even a pen (spoil the fit of your shirt,

stain if ink leaks).

2. Trousers/Pants

- Must always be darker than the top.

- Do not put your bulky wallet, keys, coins etc in your trousers (spoil the fit of your

trousers). Use a small Clutch bag to keep your personal Belongings.

- Make sure its straight cut.

3. Belt

- Simple metal buckle.

- Smooth leather belt with little shine better choice.


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- Make sure its straight cut.

4. Tie

- Tie color must match shirt or jacket or pants.

- Length must touch top of belt buckle.

- When wearing ties, ensure that knot is tight & smallcollar fit must be good.

5. Shoes

- Dark color: Black or dark brown.

- Smart shoes and not sporty.

6. Socks

- Dark color: Black, navy blue, dark brown.

- Always wear your shoes with socks.

7. Watch

- Leather or metal strap.

8. Ring

9. Cufflinks

10. Blazer/suit

- Dark suit; long enough to cover buttocks.


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- Button up your jacket when you stands up.

- Recommended for all formal presentation to clients/meeting clients.

Others:-

1. Pen

- The best you can afford (a pen signifies power)

2. Briefcases

- Good quality leather.

- Match shoes and belt.

Business Atti re for Women: 8-12 Points

1. Shirt

- Solid colors and simple designs.

- Soft patternlines or checkered.

- A white shirt/blouse is very essential.

- Wear sleeves or long sleeves.

2. Skirts/Pants

- Darker than top.

- Skirtappropriate length (about the height of the knee).


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3. Blazer/suit

- Solid colors/basic colorsBlack, Navy blue or gray color

- Recommended for all formal presentation to clients/meeting clients.

4. Shoes

- Pump shoe (with heels from 1 to 2.5 inches)

- Should be the color of the dress or darker.

- Slippers are only to be worn outside; not recommended to office/meeting clients.

5. Socks/stockings

- A must?

- Recommended colors: toffee, light brown, black or charcoal gray.

6. Make-up

- For business, no matter how little, always apply make-up.

- Choose colors as close to your skin tone as possible.

7. Accessories

- Less is recommended for a more professional and elegant look.

8. Belt

- Non-glittering.


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- Can be worn at waist level or at the hip area.

- Match with shoes color.

9. Watch

- Choose one with metal or leather strap.

- If you wearing spectacle, match the color of your watch strap with the color of the

frame.

Others:-

1. Handbag

- Own at least 2 handbags, one for day use (suitable for work), the other for formal

evening functions (small).

2. Scarf

- A scarf is recommended.

Avoid Distractions

In business, your clothing and grooming should not distract. Rather, they should direct

attention to your face and particularly your eyes. When you connect with someone else's

eyes, they tend to listen. Typical formal business attire has an advantage because it can

easily direct listeners to your eyes. A light shirt under a closed dark business jacket forms

a V that opens toward the face. A contrasting tie or scarf can heighten this effect.

Wearing some red in the tie or scarf can help draw the eyes of your audience to your


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own. In contrast, a flashy belt (buckle) can draw the eye to the waist. Bright buttons,

shiny tie tacks, colorful lapel pins, big metal watches, or other conspicuous jewelry can

also draw the eye. The same goes for clothing that is tight, shiny, or loud.

Appropriate wardrobe for Different working Environments

Three basic things you need to consider when figuring out whats appropriate for our

working wardrobe:

1. Line of Work2. Corporate Culture3. Audience

L ine of work:-

Traditional businesses like law, banking, finance, accounting, high-level corporate, etc.,

require traditional business attire: a conservative suit in dark colors with classic lines. The

message: authoritative, conservative, and competent. People businesses like teaching, real

estate, sales, medicine, social work, etc., call for clothes that both convey expertise but

are non-threatening: two piece dressing, good quality, no jacket. The message:

trustworthy, approachable, and knowledgeable. Artistic businesses like advertising, art,

fashion, writing, entertainment, decorating, etc., call for or expect a more expressive

mode of dress. Three piece dressing, with a tie, scarf, or jewelry being the third piece.

The message: creative, unique, and contemporary.


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Corporate cultur e:-

While one company may have a very strict dress code, another company in the same field

may be much more relaxed. If you adapt your wardrobe to fit in with your company,

you'll succeed much faster (in terms of promotions and/or getting staff compliance) than

if you simply resign yourself to the notion that everyone is either over- or underdressed,

in your opinion, and you'll march to your own drum, regardless of what they do. Before

you buy something to wear to work, ask yourself: Is it appropriate for the kind of job I

have? Is it a fad or will it holds up as a basic wardrobe foundation? Does it fit properly?

Will I stand out (in a positive light) if I wear it to work? Do I feel successful and

confident wearing it? Would my boss wear it?

Audience:-

The people who most influence your paycheck: your clients, potential clients,

management, colleagues, staff, students, etc. You're dressing to:

1. Be relatable to them.2. Fit their perceived image of someone in your role.

If you intimidate your clients, embarrass your manager, or have people look you over

from head to toe in disbelief, you probably haven't dressed for your audience. You also

aren't going to get very far. You need to dress how they'll feel most comfortable doing

business with you.


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Business casual

Business casual is probably one of the least understood descriptions of appropriate

business attire in the workplace. Business-casual clothing was meant to provide an

opportunity to work in a more relaxed, yet still professional, type of clothing. The

intention was to get away from the more formal suit or sport coat-and-tie look for men

and suit look for women. It was originally defined as no tie, button down shirt and slacks

for men, and a skirt or slacks and blouse or shirt for women.

Casual to extr eme:-

Sometimes when employees hear that business casual is their company's policy on dress,

some take the opportunity to really dress down. They quickly trade in the slacks for jeans,

and shirts for T-shirts. The summer months can be a particularly treacherous minefield of

work fashion don'ts. It's wise to consider that very few places of business find tank or

tube tops, flip-flops or tennis shoes and shorts appropriate business attire. Too many

people come into work as though going on a picnic or to a ballgame, and employers

become frustrated by having to correct behavior and don't want to take on the role of

fashion police.

Unacceptable Atti re:

Jeans or denim pants, shorts Leggings/stretch/stirrup/sweat pants, spandex or other form fitting pants Athletic shoes, hiking boots, sandals or flip flops Flannel shirts or T-shirts Hats/caps


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Codes of Dress (other than business)

Semi-FormalA business suit and tie for men and a business suit for women is appropriate.

Semi-formal attire is appropriate for any business function where attire was not

specified. Men should choose conservative ties, no cartoons or loud patterns.

FormalA dark suit and tie for men and a dressy business suit for women is appropriate.

Women may also wear dresses or pantsuits. The rule is generally that the more

formal the event, the more covered up a woman should dress. Take a wrap or

dress jacket if you go strappy or sleeveless. Choose dress fabrics like velvet or

silk which you would of course not wear to work.

CocktailBusiness dress for men is always appropriate. A jacket and tie should be worn for

the duration of the function. Women may choose "cocktail" suits, shorter dresses

or dressy pants. The mood is generally light-hearted unless the invitation states

"formal-cocktail reception" where "formal" refers to dress and "cocktail" refers to

the food and beverage service.

Black Tie & White TieTypically you will receive a formal invitation for these events that will state that

black tie apparel is required. A black tuxedo coat, black trousers, white tuxedo

shirt, black bow tie and matching cummerbund are expected. Women should wear

a formal gown, preferably long. A cocktail dress should be reserved for a cocktail

style function. The white tie: This style of dress is usually reserved for very


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formal, typically official or government occasions. Attire consists of a long

tailcoat, usually white, but black is acceptable, with matching trousers. Women

are expected to wear a very formal, definitely long, gown.

Mistakes in business apparel

Wild nail polish (dagger nails, nail art, etc.) Inappropriate jewelry (including body piercings, earrings on men, jangling

jewelry of any type.)

Open-toed or backless shoes (no mules, clogs or sandals). Bare legs or ankles. Bad suit (too big, little) Short skirts (1-2 inches above the knee). Leather jackets (depends on culture & industry). Printed or trendy handbag (fashion risk). Inappropriate briefcase (Invest in a black or cordovan portfolio, then upgrade with

promotions).

Tattoo taboo

In general, tattoos should never be visible in the work place. The office is not the place to

have blatant displays of personality. Businesses desire their employees to reflect a

company image, not a personal bulletin board. Tattoos are generally regarded as a

youthful indiscretion and can rob you of your credibility.


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Putting it all together

Dress to be included. Be a good reflection of corporate ideals. Dress for the position you

want, not the one you have. Dress consistently. Avoid the trap of Casual Fridays.

Always be ready to meet your boss boss. Less is more. Not too fashionable, too

complicated, too flashy. Strive for understated elegancemen & women. Finishing

touches make the difference. Pay attention to the details: ties, tasteful jewelry, shined

shoes, proper hosiery, handbags, wallets, belts. If your hair (and makeup) are outdated, so

are you. The ability to be aware of fashion trends, but not a slave to them, demonstrates a

balanced lifestyle and awareness of the environment.


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Chapter 3: Impression management

In sociology and social psychology, impression management is the process through

which people try to control the impressions other people form of them. It is a goal

directed conscious or unconscious attempt to influence the perceptions of other people

about a person, object or event by regulating and controlling information in social

interaction. Impression management is also called as self-presentation; if a person tries to

influence the perception of their image. It can be defined as our efforts to produce

favorable impressions on others. Impression management concentrates on self image and

self projection in front of other people. The explanation to this is given below.

Image and Self-Projection

There are 3 sides to self image:

1. As you see yourself.

2. As others see you.

3. As you truly are.

Characteri stics of self -image:-

1. Physical appearance: Work with what youve got! Choose attire that flatters, notjust fashion. Be confident that youve presented your best self, then forget about

it.

2. Attitude:Nothing succeeds like the attitude of success. Have personal conviction.Dont confuse attitude with status symbols or possessions.


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3. Communication skills: The ability to communicate, at all levels, is vital to havingpeople take you seriously.

4. Body Language: Your body language should support, not contradict, your wordsand feelings.

5. Personal Hygiene: The easiest factor to deal with. Neat and appropriate shouldbecome your mantra - neat hair, attire, nails, shoes, breath, and body odor.

PERCEPTIONS PROMOTIONS

Some of the perceptions people can form solely from your appearance are:

1. Your professionalism.2. Your level of sophistication.3. Your intelligence.4. Your credibility.

Whether these perceptions are real or imagined, they underscore how your appearance

instantly influences the opinions of strangers, peers, and superiors. Being well dressed in

a corporate setting can influence not just perceptions, but also promotions.

Role clari ty:-

Your corporate culture and the role you play in it should guide your choice of business

attire. More and more businesses are moving to fulltime business casual at every level in


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the organization. Some just have one or two days each week that are casual. And the

definition of business casual varies, ranging from jeans to blazers.

Choosing it r ight: -

Business dress requires you to know your audience. You need to gauge what attire will be

right for the audience and the circumstance. While your attire can be a vehicle for

personal expression, you can pay a price for violating the written and unwritten codes of

your culture. Always know the price before you pay.

Positive First Impression

What is positive first impression? What stays in some body's mind: A lasting effect,

opinion, or mental image of somebody or something?

First impressions DO COUNT when we are evaluating someone, particularly for a

professional position. Professional dress is important component of that first impression.

Walk with a purposeful stride (entering your office block or a clients). Be sure not to

carry any plastic bags, but just handbag/briefcase. Smile warmly. Dress for the person

you are meeting. Make your first 10 words count when meeting someone (Good morning,

thank you for meeting me, Mr. Kapoor). Include the persons name in the initial

conversation. Lean slightly forward, give people your full attention and listen to what

they have to say.

Corporate Impression Management

The same ideas that are used in self-presentation can also be extended to howcorporations try to manage the impression that shareholders and the public have


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of them. A number of impression management techniques can be seen in financial

reports, press releases, and other official company statements. Internally, the

company may be open among the senior management about problems the

company is facing or risks it is taking, similar to the idea of the authentic persona.

Most businesses want to make themselves look as good as possible, however,especially to their investors, and try to present all information in the best light

possible; this is very similar to the ideal persona. When a company releases its

annual report, for example, the person writing the report may use language that

downplays any negative news and emphasizes the positives. Bad news may also

be written about in a way that makes it more difficult to understand so that readers

don't full grasp its full meaning.

Corporations often have a tactical persona as well. A company that feels it cangain from being seen as environmentally conscious, for example, might introduce

a line of "green" products or take action to reduce the amount of waste it

produces. These actions might cost the company money in the short term, but by

aligning itself with the values held by society, it could improve the image of the

company in a way that gives it an advantage over its competitors. From the

management side, the annual report may credit any good news to the hard work

and effective management of the people running the company, emphasizing the

value of their continued employment, while any negatives are presented as caused

by outside forces.


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Self-Presentation Techniques

There's a wide range of self-presentation methods, including everything from carrying

certain objects to espousing certain points of view to telling other people what to think.

These are all used to help people present themselves in a favorable light or comply with

perceived requirements for joining specific groups. In classic impression

management theory, there are five main self presentation techniques:

Self disclosure: This method is often used to provide information to other peopleto establish an identity. It's commonly used with the authentic persona. An

example of this would be a man telling a date about his job to show that he's

responsible or financially stable.

Managing appearances: This involves a person changing his outwardappearance, like dressing or acting in a certain way to fit in with a group. It can be

used with the authentic, ideal, or tactical persona. Common examples of this

include things like a businessperson developing a firm handshake to look

successful and powerful, or a salesperson smiling at a potential client to make a

good impression even though she feels unhappy.

Ingratiation: This method consists of conforming to the expectations of a specificgroup, opinion, or society. For instance, a person using ingratiation might say that

he likes watching art house films when he actually doesn't because he thinks it

will make him sound smarter around his new friends. Another common means of


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ingratiation is a woman acting like she's not as smart as a partner to boost his ego.

This is generally used with the ideal or tactical personae.

Ali gning actions: This involves trying to make questionable actions seem likethey're actually acceptable. A person using this method might say she couldn't

finish a report on time because she suddenly got sick, or say something bigoted

and then try to pass it off as a joke. It can be used with the authentic, ideal or

tactical persona.

Alter-casting:This consists of imposing an identity and set of expectations onanother person, such as a superior assigning his subordinate the role of

"hardworking employee" by telling him that he expects him to be a good

employee and achieve his targets before the given time. If he is not able to do so

then he fails to meet superiors expectations and is no longer seen as a

"hardworking employee".

Impression management: Some basic tactics

The two broad tactics of impression management are as follows:

A. Self -enhancement: -

It can be defined as efforts to boost our own self-image. Self-enhancement is that form of

self-presentation emphasizing the promotion of ones positive qualities. There are many

tactics of Self-enhancement. One important tactic of self-enhancement is to improve our

appearance. This can be done in following ways:-


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1. Change in wardrobe (dress).2. Personal grooming (Use of cosmetic, hairstyle, use of perfume.)3. Judicious use of non verbal cues.

Research studies indicate that all the above techniques work under some or 0ther

condition. Brief summaries of some research studies of some research studies using Self

enhancement as an impression management technique are as follows: -

Women who had dress in a professional manner (business suit or dress, subduedjeweler) are often evaluated more favorable for management positions than

women who dress in a more dress in a more traditionally feminine manner.

It has also been found that eyeglasses encourage impression of intelligence, whilelong hair for women or beards for men tend to reduce such impressions. (Terry &

rants).

Wearing perfume or cologne can enhance first impression provided thisparticular grooming aid is not overdone. (Baron). Most of these efforts to

improve personal appearance are not potentially dangerous to the persons who

use them. Other tactics of Self-enhancement pose different kinds of risks. For

instance, recent research by Sharp & Getz indicates that one reason why at least

some young people consume alcohol is that it gives them the right IMAGE. In

other words, they engage in such behavior partly for purpose of impression

management. Research finding (Sharp & Getz) offer support for the view that

some people do drink alcohol as a tactic of impression management to help look

good in the eyes of others.


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B. Otherenhancement:-

It refers to efforts on our part to make the target person feel good in our presence. There

are many ways in which we can enhance others self-esteem. Some of these are as

follows: -

Flatteryheaping praise on target person even if they dont deserve it. Expressing agreement with their views. Showing a high degree of interest in them. And expressing liking them, either verbally or non- verbally (Wayne & Ferris).

A statistical factor analytic study of impression management tactic by Wayne & Ferris on

a sample of 84 bank employees (including 74 women) identified three categories of

favorable upward impression management tactics. These are as follows:-

Job-focused (manipulating information about ones job performance). supervisor-focused (praising & doing favors for ones for ones supervisor) Self-focused (presenting oneself as a polite & nice person).

A large body of research evidence suggests that efforts to engage in impression

management are highly useful. It has been found that impression management can

influence important judgments based on impression of others. Research studies by Wayne

& Linden have demonstrated that impression management is a useful tactic during the

first six weeks on the job. They found that the greater the extent to which the new

employees engaged in other-enhancement tactics of impression management, the more

their supervisors viewed them as similar to themselves. Further, the more the employees

engaged in self-enhancement tactic, the more their supervisors liked them. Most


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important, increased liking & feeling of similarly were strong predictors of performance

ratings; the more supervisors liked their subordinates & felt similar to them, the higher

they rated their performance.

Example of impression management (as per basic tactics):-

When we are under scrutiny, we will try to deliberately manage the impressions that

others form of us. We will use self-enhancement to make us seem good, for example

through smart dress, careful language, etc. The alternative is other enhancementto make

the other person feel good, such as with flattery.

Example

Watch people being interviewed on TV. Notice how a good interviewer uses other-

enhancement to relax them. Spot how people use self-enhancement to look good.

Using it

Look good, sound good, and make the other person feel good. But dont over-do it!


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Chapter 4: Impact of self grooming on impression management

Your appearance is the one personal characteristic that is immediately obvious and

accessible to others. You cant hide it. Your appearance makes a strong statement about

your personality, values, attitudes, interests, knowledge, abilities, roles, and goals. You

cant afford to be seen as disrespectful, antagonistic, pretentious, scatterbrained,

irresponsible, ineffective, or unproductive. You cant afford to create a negative

impression or to build barriers between you and others because of unattractive,

inappropriate, distracting, or offensive appearance. When you appear attractively dressed

and groomed, personally authentic, and appropriate for the occasion, you create a positive

impression and others are more able to perceive your positive traits and regard you more

favorably. Your appearance is one situation factor you can generally control. While there

is no one-and-only right way to look authentic, appropriate, attractive, and

affordable are key words to dress by. The harmonious selection and coordination of

clothing, with attention to proper fit and care is essential. You must create an authentic,

appropriate, attractive, and affordable appearance, then forget about yourself and get on

with your life if you hope to accomplish your goals and objectives.

Self grooming helps in impression formation. Impression formation is a part ofimpression management. Impression formation is a process through which we form

impressions on others. Impression formation can be defined as the process through which

we combine diverse information about persons into a united impression on them.

Forming impressions on others is an elaborate cognitive process. The initial or first

impressions about others are very important. It is rightly said that the First impression is

the last impression. The initial impressions we make on others will generally shape the


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course of our future relations with them in important ways. Once an important is formed,

it is generally resistant to change. Thus, it is necessary to be careful on first dates,

interviews & other situations in which we meet others for the first time.

Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you

feel "the part," and so feel more calm and confident. Clean and tidy appearance is

appropriate for most business and social occasions. A good haircut or shave. Clean and

tidy clothes. Neat and tidy make up. Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps

make you feel the part".


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Bibliography

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_grooming2. www.bravuracoaching.com3. www.citehr.com4. www.etiquettedaily.com5. www.cmhcm.org6.

www.slideshare.net

7. wiki.answers.com8. articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com9. www.suite101.com

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Self Grooming and impact on personality