Let your surroundings enhance your expertise.

Let your surroundings enhance your expertise, MelanieFalvey.
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Our work space or office is such a powerful tool. It is so in two ways.

On the one hand, it is where we need to be the most productive, creative, efficient…and HAPPY.
On the other hand, it expresses a lot about us: our business style, our personality.

When we meet clients or when we hold Skype calls, webinars, we are sending out a very powerful image of how we are able to help them.
So take a minute to reflect upon this. Is that space that you are showing your clients or potential clients the best reflection of your knowledge and savoir-faire?
Is it going to make them trust that you can put their business in order when you are sitting in front of a messy shelf? Oh yes, a pile of books might reflect knowledge , however, the way those books are set says so much more about you.
Hadn´t you ever though about it? Well, it´s time you did. We are all very visual, it´s not by chance they say an image is worth a thousand words, it is the way our brains work. The first perception, lasts only seconds,but immediately makes an assumption about what our brain is perceiving. It doesn´t say, oh, let me get all the data I need about this and I will study it in depth and I will get back to you when I make up my mind about you. No! It doesn´t work that way.
In order to survive, our primitive ancestors had to make quick decisions – so they either ran for their lives as soon as they saw a lion or well, let´s put it simply, we wouldn´t be here today, would we?
So make sure those first seconds when someone gets to see you and your surroundings are capable of sending out the best impression of yourself and your business.

Imagine you are a web designer wanting to get a new client. You jump on a Skype call with your prospect. You might have even put on some make up (well, ladies, I guess, though I will not be the one to judge you if you are a man), you are nicely dressed, or maybe not . You´ve got your fancy presentation and you proudly show your client portfolio and all your great work.
But, all your potential client can see is the stain of a coffee mug on your desk, a messy shelf at the back and a pile of laundry on one corner of the room.
Now, the truth is that if you are selling them the concept of a great designed, sleek looking website… well, excuse me for being blunt but you are sending out contradicting messages.You get it, right?

So, first impressions DO matter in business. Obviously you might be , and I am sure you are the most efficient web designer out there, and yes, you think showing your messy office gives this nerdy-geeky-vibe which equals being a great web designer. Em, no! Or maybe they´ll think you are messy because you have so much work because you are so good at what you do, that you could not possibly have the time to style your office. No, again! Or you are just this free spirited entrepreneur who has this incredibly laid-back style that clients will adore…no!

That is where most people get it wrong. Your space can reflect that you are an easy going individual, no need for fancy, stiff decor. That´s not the point. The point is you must portray your best image in order for your clients to trust your professionalism. It might have nothing to do with how well you can perform your work, but unfortunately we have been wired to trust our first impressions.

If you are selling the image of a well-established multi-figure (I do hate that type of jargon) entrepreneur, how can you have such a shabby (without the chic) work space? You see, it just doesn´t match. Your space should align with your speech.

Your space should align with your speech. MelanieFalvey
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So here is where you can start:
Look around your space and be objective, does it truly reflect who you are and who you want to be perceived as?
If not, think what element (colour or object) you can introduce to make it “more you”. Start small, one element at a time-introduce some object that bears your brand colour ,or
maybe a nice pen that will make you feel good and important. It doesn´t have to be pricey, but it must feel special to you.
For instance, I recently bought a flamingo pen. I adore flamingos since I was a little girl and now, having become quite a trend I can find them more easily. I have actually even created a whole collection with the flamingo theme, it will soon be available in my shop.

So I placed my new pen in my pen holder and every time I look at it, I associate it to signing: signing contracts, cheques (in order to cash them!) or who knows, maybe a book some day?*

That simple little item is “so me”, anyone seeing it knows this, they associate it with my style. Obviously my whole office reflects who I am because this is what I do, but everybody, absolutely everybody can learn how to create spaces that enhance them, reflect who they are at their best and make them more efficient, productive, creative, happier…which therefore leads to SUCCESS!

Ergo, what does your space look like?
What small change can you make today to improve it and make it more you?
Let me know by posting a comment below or by posting on social media using hashtag #MeMyOfficeAndI

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Thanks for reading!
Melanie x

* After writing this post I actually wrote a book!

All rights reserved. Copyright Melanie Falvey 2016