Management and Leadership – Presenting and Maintaining the Professional Image of a Leader

Presenting and maintaining a professional image is one of the most important aspects of leadership. Simply put, if you want others to follow you, you must project the image of a leader, an authority figure with the qualifications to make the correct and tough decisions… a professional.

Here are five basic guidelines that will help you to build and maintain the image of a professional leader in the workplace:

• A professional leader dresses the part.
• A professional leader has integrity.
• A professional leader treats others with respect.
• A professional leader seeks input from others, and then makes an informed decision.
• A professional leader follows reason, not emotions.

Dress the Part

The first impression most people will have of you will be based on your appearance. A professional leader will always dress appropriately for his/her position. In the business world, (unless you work for Apple), professional attire is considered to be a suit and tie for men and a pant or skirt suit for women. Even if you worked until midnight the day before, you must always show up for work neat and clean. If you cannot take care of yourself at home, you will never be entrusted to take care of a business.

As important as the impression you make with your appearance is the one you make with your words and conduct. To succeed, you must not only look professional, but you must act professional as well. The remaining guidelines speak to your words and actions.

Have Integrity

Having integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. Conducting yourself in an ethical manner is habit forming and contagious. As a leader you have an example to set. Let others know that doing what is right will be rewarded, unethical practices will be punished, and that you ‘practice what you preach.’ Hypocrisy is not professional.

Treat Others with Respect

Treating others with respect involves talking to them as equals, regardless of their job or title. Be courteous. A simple ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ will make the difference between a difficult interaction and a comfortable conversation.

As a leader you will need to coach others on their performance. Except in rare circumstances, you should coach in private and praise in public. Coaching someone in front of others will almost always harm your reputation. You run the risk of being viewed as ‘power tripping,’ or as someone who puts others down to build yourself up. While this may not be the case, you are dealing with people who have their own egos to bruise. Others’ impressions of you will affect team moral and performance.

Additionally, coaching in public often does not have the desired result of correcting a mistake or a wrong practice. The individual being coached will often focus their attention on the embarrassment they are feeling in front of their coworkers and not on the message you are trying to deliver.

Praising an employee in public has several benefits. First, the employee being praise will feel good about his/her performance and his/her recognition, which should translate into continued positive results. Second, observers will be motivated to do well in the hopes of receiving similar recognition. You will also be viewed as the effective leader who can guide a team to achieve positive results.

Seek Input from Others and Make an Informed Decision

A true professional is not intimidated by the ideas of others, rather, he/she will embrace them. You may be presented with a whole new way of approaching a situation or tackling a problem. You will also instill confidence in your employees that you are open to their thoughts and views, and that you are making truly informed decisions based on all the information available. You will also benefit from the strong lines of communication you create by encouraging dialogue.

Follow Reason, Not Emotions

It is difficult to make sound decisions when you are angry or frustrated. Your choices may not be sound if you are making them when you are angry. At that moment, you may also be focusing (although unconsciously) on achieving the wrong goal of shooting down your colleague’s argument or proving your own point and not on what is best for the team. While a colleague’s actions may make you furious, your first reaction may make the situation worse. Take a professional approach by stepping away from the heated situation, collecting your thoughts and formulating an informed response. If you are in public, choose to take your discussion somewhere private. Remember, getting the last word will not project a professional image, keeping your cool will.

Remember…

The professional image of a leader is not made over night. Once it is created it must be maintained and it cannot be faked. If you practice these steps, chances are you will project the image of a professional leader… because you will be one.

---

Lucas D. Ives is a training consultant at Verizon Wireless and a StrategyDriven contributor. A dynamic facilitator, he excels at creating and delivering captivating training focused on the business professional. To read Lucas’s complete biography, click here.

Related Articles:

1. Management and Leadership – Leadership Lessons from the United States Naval Academy: the Five Basic Responses
2. Management and Leadership – Leadership Lessons from the United States Naval Academy: The Honor Concept
3. StrategyDriven Podcast Special Edition 1 – An Interview with Robert Thompson, author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable
4. Resource Management Best Practice 1 – Attract the Best with Accountability
5. Management – Introduction