Special Announcement

I'm delighted to announce that I am now working with Nordstrom as a Personal Stylist in the Pentagon City store (The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, metro-DC). Nordstrom stores have been an essential resource for me for many years as I helped executives put together working wardrobes. Partnering with such a well respected store allows me to connect with many people who understand how important it is to dress the part for a successful interview, convey confidence with clients, or connect well with others at networking events. We only get one chance to make a great first impression, and what we wear speaks volumes before we say our first words.

If you or someone you know lives in the Washington, DC, area and would like to make an appointment for this complimentary service with me, it's easy to do. Just call the store at 703-415-1121 ext. 1455, or send me an email.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Dwelling on Past Mistakes?

My pal Julie, an incredibly gifted and creative marketing exec, recently took a job she was certain would be fantastic, only to find three or four weeks into things that the new organization was rife with problems, infighting and chaos. Julie made a quick exit and is now looking for a new opportunity, but her confidence, she tells me, is shaken. "How did I make such a bad choice?" she asks herself constantly, and the follow up to that of course is, "Will I do it again?"

Today's Wall Street Journal article about the parallels between professional athletes who encounter slumps (such as Jack Nicklaus and Alex Rodriguez) and executives who lose their swag is worth reading, particularly if you've been second guessing yourself. According to the WSJ, the ways in which self-confidence and a more positive attitude are regained for golf greats and baseball legends are the same for the rest of us.

The article lists some tips to silence those inner negative voices, including a favorite of mine: "List your strengths and assets and refer to the list in stressful moments." To get back on the All-Star roster, list 10 positive traits you bring to the table on an index card and look at it any time you feel your confidence falter, and remember that the first sale is always to yourself.

Tying the Knot - Plaid's Your Best Bet for Fall

According to GQ Magazine, plaid ties are all the rage this season: "We're in an era in fashion where all things traditional look modern again. Wear an amped-up plaid tie with a chambray shirt or a white oxford, and put a skinny suit on over it, and you'll look unimpeachably cool." Who among us doesn't want that?

Once you select your plaid, be it a family tartan or gorgeous Alexander Olch cashmere Glen Plaid (second from the top), learning how to properly knot the tie will separate the men from the boys. Once again, Brooks Brothers comes to the rescue with an informative tutorial here.

Never heard of Alexander Olch? Check out GQ's interview with the tie guru here.

Wearing a Scarf

If you've been watching "Mad Men," then you've probably noticed Betty wearing her beautiful silk scarves. Many women tell me they love the idea of wearing a silk scarf, but don't know how. Sound familiar? I've found a great resource - Brooks Brothers's website has a tutorial of sorts on six ways to wear a silk scarf: French Twist, Square Knot, Neck Ring, Neck Wrap, Slip Knot and Head Wrap. Check it out here.

While some say the best silk scarves come in flat orange boxes from France (Hermes), there are many other, more affordable options out there. I've gotten some outstanding bargains at Filene's Basement (Longchamp, Pucci and Yves St. Laurent). Select a classic design you like in colors that work with your basic wardrobe, and you'll wear it for years. Elegant execs know a silk scarf adds a nice finishing touch to a suit and jazzes up more casual ensembles.

Name the Dog Contest Winner

In this month's The Elegant Executive newsletter, I challenged readers to name the dog breed pictured above, with the winner receiving a free half-hour coaching session with me. Congrats to Lois from Drinker Biddle for being the first to correctly identify the breed as a Bedlington Terrier. Tune in next month for more fun, games and insight into ways to network more effectively, turning business-related encounters into mutually beneficial professional relationships. Click here to sign up for my free monthly newsletter.

No Need to Panic

Former Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, was given some indispensable advice at a young age by his father who told him that in a crisis situation, "Become the calmest person in the room." Mr. Giuliani credits his father's words of wisdom for saving his life during the 9-11 World Trade attacks.

Ever notice how panic helps no one? And more to the point, it makes the person falling to pieces just look bad. Self-control is the antidote to panic, and the time to practice is before a serious situation arises. The next time you feel yourself unhinging ever so slightly because the FedEx pickup didn’t happen or the meeting room you reserved for your clients is being used instead for a CPR course, take a deep cleansing breath, close your eyes, and tell yourself to act like the calmest person in the room. Open your eyes and realize that most situations can be remedied by a clear head and some quick thinking. An Elegant Executive never panics.

Professionally Persistent

Yesterday I received a sales call from someone I met recently who would like to do business. While I'm not in need of his services at the moment, I would certainly like to keep in touch. He understood that the timing wasn't right, and asked if he could be "professionally persistent" and call me next month. I almost fell out of my chair.

Yes! Please, be persistent in a professional manner. Not aggressively so: "I've been calling you for months, isn't it time we do business together?", nor the reverse, painfully meek: "You probably have found another source by now, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to make one more call."

Being professionally persistent means asking for a better time to call, and following up with confidence and sometimes a dash of humor. A case in point: I've been trying to schedule a meeting with a very important person with whom I have a strong connection, but it hasn't happened. Each time we agree on a date, she cancels, albeit with great apology. When it happened this morning at 9:00 (the 10:30 coffee date is off), I recalled the phrase I heard yesterday and told my VIP that while I was sorry we weren't going to get together, I congratulated her on her recent business coup and told her I would continue to be professionally persistent. She laughed and told me to do just that. She also thanked me for my understanding.

The Elegant Executive always assumes good intentions, doesn't let minor setbacks ruin the day, and knows that mutually beneficial professional relationships take time to nurture and grow.

Returning Calls the Old Fashioned Way

It's so easy. It's so simple. It's so rare. I'm talking about returning phone calls by phone - voice-to-voice communication, as opposed to returning a phone call with an email or a text message.

The Elegant Exec knows that voice-to-voice wins over other all other modes, except face-to-face dialogue. Our voices convey nuance and signals that help build relationships. Texting and email certainly convey information, but not humor or empathy. Besides, email isn't nearly as efficient as a good old conversation where A leads to B and then to C.

Most people find their in-boxes brimming with information they'd rather ignore and that might include your next note. Make a phone call the next time you need to connect with someone and you'll be surprised where it might lead.

Federal City Necktie

Featuring a map of Washington, DC, this necktie is perfect for the not-so-formal office, where ties are optional. It's whimsical, but not in a childish way, and says, "I'm a professional who appreciates dressing well while maintaining my own sense of style." Available at Josh Bach, it retails for $55. Other cities available: Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, London, Paris and Rome.

Elegance Defined

Welcome to The Elegant Executive! I'm very happy you're here and I hope you'll enjoy the information, advice and suggestions put forth to make you a more elegant executive.
For this first post, I'd like to share a definition of "elegant" that I like very much:
Very choice, and hence, pleasing to good taste; characterized by grace, propriety, and refinement, and the absence of every thing offensive; freedom from blemish, and the like; graceful; tasteful and highly attractive; as, elegant manners; elegant style of composition; an elegant speaker; an elegant structure. (Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.)

The information in this blog is aimed at helping professionals make better first impressions, feel more confident in networking situations, and ultimately become so at ease and self-assured, clients will be drawn to them like bees to flowers. It's worth the effort to make yourself more attractive to others. People buy from and do business with people they like, thus the line above, "the absence of every thing offensive," is what we will strive for.