In the real world, first impressions counts a lot. You probably will swipe left to pass the guy on Tinder who is scruffy and looking as if he hasn’t seen daylight for a million years. The app depends a lot on first impressions. In the business world, it is even more so but what is really out of perspective is packaging. It’s all about how you package your company, your products and even yourself in order to get far in the game.
Let me list a few examples.
The Crazy Entertainment World All artists are packaged, one probably more carefully than others. You may delude yourself on what you perceive as the personality of that artist or singer on what you read but it’s all managed down to tiny details by their management company.Sorry to crash your impression of Bieber. Look at how some singers can’t sing but have sell out concerts every single time. (Lip sync, lip sync, lip sync!) Look at how some actors can’t act but yet starred in blockbusters movies. (Dead eyes, dead expression, dead voice…) You know who they are and despite their lack of talent, they are still around. Kudos to their management company. Want to know more? Watch Entourage (TV series) – these must be some truth in there.
The Foodie World You’ll notice all those bad unhealthy food are all packaged in bright vibrant colors whereas the healthier organic food are always packed in earthy colors like green, brown, beige.. Makes you just want to reach out those red, yellow blue packaging, don’t you? Scientific studies shows that happy bright colors usually drawn in consumers attention more than dull colors. It makes a lot of sense, why do you think McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut or Domino’s have red, yellow and blue in them?
The Smokies World The big tobacco companies have been masters at marketing their products. When they are banned in advertising their products on television and radio in 1971, they survived in newspapers, magazines and billboards. They package the cigarettes to look cool for the youth (barely adults), the manly cowboy or the slim and chic for the ladies.
So you get it packaging is very important but how do you package yourself and do you need to? If you think all you need packaging is when you are going for a job interview, you are so wrong. In one of my earlier article, I’ve talked about how to make known your intentions that you are ready to move on and up in your career.
One serious consideration, top management tend to have is whether the person is managerial material, in other words, does he or she belongs to the club. Of course, one thing that always looked for is productive and results however, we all know to be a good leader, you need more than that. You need to inspire and lead by example. Just like organic food, you are good for the company (inside) but you don’t look as nice on the outside as perhaps, say a candy who is decked in red, yellow and blue. Now I know you produce results and you are good for the company, but I’ll still be tempted to chose the candy over you anyways especially if the candy does produce results as well, just not as good as you.
Unfair? In the business world, there is often unfairness. So instead of mulling around, take action and increase your leverage to make it a fair playing field. Don’t control what you can’t fix, act on things you can control.
And don’t wait until the announcement been made that there is a headcount for a promotion before you take action. I have seen folks in my office suddenly perked up, came early to work, decked in their best, volunteer for any and every tasks. Heck, even the sloppy ones appeared more tidy and stayed back late when it’s appraisal time. So fake! Oops, did I say that aloud? Yes, it’s very superficial. You’ll know appraisal period is over and they had their one on one talk when you realize the office is back to normal again.
Subtle change is the key word. Change for the better. For the positive. If you are often late, work on that, tardiness shows the opposite of reliability. If you are careless in your work, make sure you check thrice, not twice before you click submit. Oh, and remember to attach your documents before sending out that email. If you dressed as if you are going to a party later, start toning down by swapping the colors for something somber.
If you want to sell them that you deserve the position, they need to know that they can sell you as the new manager to your new staff. Because ultimately, sad but true, it all boils down to how good you package yourself.
Do you think the above implies to you as well? Leave your thoughts at below comment.
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