Image Improvement for Increased Success
By Diana Mathias
Epoch Times Los Angeles Staff



WITH PROPER DECORUM: Would you feel at home with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace? (John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images)
If you value yourself and your services it only makes sense to present them in the best way possible. Those who've already gone as far as they can on their own, attained a professional degree, established a business, honed their skills, mapped a strategy, might still want to bring in the professionals to polish the final image.
When Jackie Kennedy brought refinement and poise to the position of First Lady we heard that she had gone to the John Robert Powers "finishing school." The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is graced by a fresh young queen and court who smoothly represent the Rose Parade, but not without the help of experts, like Julie Ann Ulcickas, who coach the ladies annually on the fine points of public appearance.
So, when you are ready to improve your personal presentation in both business and social arenas you can contact Dianne Marsch of the Etiquette School of Manhattan. She teaches people to reach their goals by opening doors with good manners.
At the Etiquette School, instructors teach students how to increase career opportunities by improving social and communication skills, and promote self-esteem with classes in proper etiquette, including: Social Skills, Professional Imaging, Business Etiquette, Communication Skills, Dining Protocol, Wedding Etiquette, High Tea, and American Cotillion.
Open to children, teens, and adults, the classes can benefit one at any stage of one's life. According to Dianne Marsch, "The skills acquired in the process of learning proper etiquette enable class participants to possess and demonstrate a lifelong commitment to politeness and polished sophistication in every social situation."
Those schooled in good etiquette know that proper protocol and exercising good manners are more than a mere formality. The school "helps you to know what to do in any situation," said Ms. Marsch.
Right now people are mainly interested in investing in their professional image. According to Ms. Marsch, "Our Professional Imaging Class has become our most popular class."


ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH STRANGERS: Barack Obama campaigning in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Professional imaging courses help career-minded individuals learn techniques that allow them to communicate better with clients and employees, and on a personal level, build and sustain business relationships. Such techniques have a powerful effect when it comes to making the right impression and connection with the people one meets.
Courses in etiquette can also provide valuable knowledge for those working in the global market with people from other cultures learning the customs for conducting business with Americans. "We help participants in companies located in many countries to learn how to conduct business more effectively in the United States," said Ms. Marsch.
Dianne Marsch brings her experience as an educator and public speaker for over 20 years. She has worked with children, teens, and adults in both private and public schools, colleges, and universities. She is a graduate of The International School of Protocol, The Premier Finishing School, and is a Certified Image and Etiquette Consultant. Her lifelong desire has been to be an effective educator and improve social behavior.
"Through the teaching of proper etiquette, we are helping individuals of all ages build respect for themselves and others," she explains.
The Professional Imaging Classes appeal to a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and cultures from all over the world, including salespeople, politicians, entrepreneurs, the self-employed, college and university students, professionals, as well as middle and upper management.


BUILD ALLIANCES BY KNOWING THE CUSTOMS: A delicate balance between warmth and respect brings you closer to your goals. (Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images)
Dianne Marsch's students have said that their improved etiquette reflects in being able to make people feel relaxed and comfortable. "I have noticed the difference in my sales and the way customers respond to me," said a former student
The president of a banking institution commented that courses are "mandatory attendance for all 120-plus employees. We want to make our staff present the best possible professional image we can."
This is not a slow, painstaking improvement program; the results are immediate, Marsch says. "Achieving the very highest level of professionalism will begin the very first day after completing the Professional Imaging Class, and lasts a lifetime."
One notable case was a student in her late 40s who came to her after raising her children. Deciding to go back into the workforce, she enlisted help in refining her image. Marsch relates that, "she lacked the necessary qualifications and skills to be marketable." However, after completing the Professional Imaging Class, she gained the confidence to return to school, take professional exams, and become a realtor.
For those who reach the point of trying to accelerate advancement with your employer, qualify to take on a new, or higher paying career, motivate yourself to become an entrepreneur, command respect, tap into your strengths, look and feel more professional, polish your presentation skills, become the perfect business dinner host or guest, turbo-charge your sales team, or become a motivating manager, this might be the step you want to take.

Body Language as a Powerful Communicator
By Dianne Marsch
Special to Epoch Times



Body language can make or break an image, especially a public image. Our favorite politicians have mastered the art of body language to convey messages without using words. In this photo U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim shake hands during a meeting in Brazil. Both appear poised, friendly and professionally amicable. (Evaristo SA/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Image Improvement for Increased Success Tuesday, January 22, 2008
People receive and send nonverbal signals all the time and if you aren't aware of the message being communicated through body language cues, you can miss out on important aspects of the conversation. Improving your body language can make a difference in your people skills. Body language signals will change depending on whether you are interacting with your boss, an employee, or someone you are interested in dating.
Reading people's nonverbal communication signals and matching and mirroring a person's behavior often will put them at ease. As mentioned in my previous article, Dr. Albert Mehrabian, an expert in communication research discovered that only seven percent of communication comes from the spoken word, thirty-eight percent is from the tone of the voice and fifty-five percent comes from appearance, space you take up and body language.
Body language is a powerful communicator. Don't send mixed messages through body swaying, erratic movements and tensed muscles in the face, jaw line and around the eyes. It is easy to damage our influence with others if they observe us acting irrationally in our nonverbal communication.
We often determine what someone is saying by reading their facial expression. A natural smile will result in many facial muscle groups moving. When you give a true smile your forehead muscles will push down, the cheeks and jaws move and your nose can wrinkle somewhat. The eyes will show if it is a real smile. However, when a forced smile is given only the muscles around the mouth are affected. Your body language needs to send a message that you are in control and are confident when meeting someone. Your body language message should be consistent and congruent with your verbal message. People will always believe the expression on the face ahead of the spoken word.
Cool body language gestures such as crossed arms or crossed legs, can mean someone is defensive, or expressing opposition to what is being discussed. You will know this by watching the position of the body to see if it leaning away from the speaker. Rolling the eyes or lowering the eyelids during conversation, slumped posture, no eye contact or staring at the ground, playing with your hair, jewelry, or car keys, kicking or tapping your foot or leg, finger drumming and nail picking are considered negative body language gestures. These negative barriers show that you are threatened and uncomfortable with the situation. Body Language will send a clear message if we take time to read the signals.
Warm, comfortable gestures are leaning towards someone to show your interest, smiling, erect and energized walking, open palm, hand steepling, feet flat on the floor, good eye contact and nodding your head once in awhile without overdoing it. Hand movement should be used to emphasize a point. Your warm gestures need to match your words and show the right emotion.
When you enter a room, you are immediately judged on your body language cues. People will decide your level of trustworthiness by observing your first ten steps into the room. Walk with a cadence and display good posture at all times. Remember seated posture has the same importance as your standing posture. Don't let your back come in contact with the back of your chair, which forces you to sit up straight and look more engaged in the conversation. Sitting too tense and shoulders too high will show your lack of confidence and you can appear arrogant or distant if you lean back too far.
The way we deliver a message using our nonverbal body language such as pitch, pace, volume and rate of your voice determines your level of believability.
Tonality creates a visual image that has implications far beyond the spoken word. The sound of your voice has a tremendous impact on others and communicates your emotional state. Establish an instant connection with others, by using the right tone of voice.
In many situations, the tonality of your voice can determine your credibility factor. That is why it is important to project a pleasant sounding voice.
Your pitch refers to the tone of the voice. You don't want it too high or too low. Anxiety can result in a rise in the pitch. To create a high level of credibility you need to eliminate a nasal, harsh or shallow sound. The rate at which you communicate is also important because you don't want to speak too quickly or too slowly.
Another powerful component of body language is the pause. Pausing is a useful tool, which helps you emphasize a point. Learning to be comfortable with silence is also a very important skill that we need to master. Refrain from rushing in too quickly to fill the void and possibly losing the impact of your message.
We certainly won't be perceived as a true professional, if our language is rude, shows negative emotion, or vulgar, and we display anger easily. Swearing and using foul language will destroy any influence you might have established. Never use filler words such as "uh," "hmm," "ah," "you know," "like," "you got it," or "no problem," because your presence and trust factor will be diminished. To be effective with your actual wording and project the right meaning in your presentation, practice by looking in the mirror and record yourself. Your posture, gestures and expression should convey your intended message and make a positive impact.
It is a sign of respect to learn different culture norms, which dictate our body language signals. In many countries when we nod our head up and down, it can signify that we are in agreement, or practicing good listening skills. In Bulgaria and some parts of Greece nodding your head up and down has the opposite meaning. Arab men will often be seen nearly touching each other's face, when they are discussing making plans for the following evening, or to meet someone later. A universal form of body language, which can change the dynamics between you and others, is the smile, which means the same anywhere you travel.
Developing a successful winning image and perfecting a first impression is dependent on exhibiting positive and congruent body language including proper stance, the way you sit, positioning, posturing, controlled hand movement, appearance and tone of voice.

Stressed parents 'make kids ill'

Stressed parents 'make kids ill' Parents with stressful lives may be making their children as well as themselves vulnerable to illness, research suggests.
A University of Rochester study, reported by New Scientist, found sickness levels were higher in children of anxious or depressed parents.
It also found links between stress and immune system activity in the children.
A UK scientist said children were "highly resilient", and urged parents not to worry about the findings.
I believe that children are highly resilient, and their systems are sufficiently robust to cope with this Dr David Jessop Bristol University
It has long been known that stress can cause immune system changes that make a person more prone to infections and other illnesses.
However, the new study, first published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, is the first to provide evidence that the problem can be transmitted from parent to child.
The researchers, led by Dr Mary Caserta, followed the parents of 169 children over a three-year period, with the parents recording instances of childhood illness, before undergoing six-monthly psychiatric evaluations.
The total number of illnesses was significantly higher in the children of parents with higher levels of "emotional stress".
In addition, immune cells in the blood of the children was measured, and those with more stressed parents had raised levels.
The researchers conceded that allowing parents to measure the illness in their children could skew the results, as over-anxious parents were more likely to record higher levels.
However, they said that the findings still strongly suggested a connection between parental stress and children's health.
Stress relief
Dr David Jessop, a researcher in stress and health at Bristol University, said that longer-term studies were needed to measure both the immediate impact of the stress, and how children recovered in periods of less parental anxiety.
He said that it would be wrong for the research to worsen the plight of parents already suffering from stress.
"The 64,000 dollar question is, once this stress is alleviated, do the children's immune systems return to normal, or are they scarred for life?
"I believe that children are highly resilient, and their systems are sufficiently robust to cope with this.
"Although it is a good study, parents should not let it worry them unduly."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7302955.stmPublished: 2008/03/19 00:57:01 GMT© BBC MMVIII

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