Standing out in the workplace need not be hard, says Shireena Shroff Manchharam

There might be moments in your career when everyone seems to be progressing at lightning speed, while you frustratingly contemplate when your opportunities will eventually find you. Colleagues get promoted, friends land their dream jobs, yet this whirlwind of perpetual change unfortunately just doesn't seem to involve you. As the world flashes by your bubble of inertia, it's easy to slip into a dangerous territory of questioning your value or worth. Are you really doing all you can to show your true, authentic self, or are there things you can do to take yourself out of your comfort zone and get noticed?

We believe success at work is based on our inherent skill and ability, but unsurprisingly there are moments when people get ahead of us based not only on their work output, but a combination of their personality and professional personal brand. 

This leads us to feel unjustly confused when we work equally as hard, but unaware that it's just not enough to rely on our skill set, but a combination of who we are and how we represent ourselves. The combination of appearance, behavior, and communication skills, coupled with our ability is what projects us forward. It's easy to sit behind your desk, delivering work, but when we merge that by projecting a confident, professional, and friendly personality we are more likely to get noticed, attract others, and create a more positive impact at work.  

Building your technical skills is crucial to landing a good job, but we can distinctly stand out by working on three factors to get noticed to highlight who we are and propel us to where we want to reach. 

ABC - Appearance

As you start the year, reflect on where you are now and where you want to be. Think from a work standpoint how you want to be working. Are you leading a team, making speeches, or are you sitting behind a desk, furiously typing away – think what you need to do to get the promotion you want. When we think about appearance, it doesn't mean purchasing expensive outfits in order to look like a million bucks. But rather, assess if your clothes reflect your personality, as well as the organization you represent. 

As a trained Image Consultant, I’ve been advising individuals for over 15 years and repeatedly seen people dismiss the notion that how we dress plays a part in our success. We inherently want to believe success is based solely on ability, but if we think of how many people are qualified for the job we have, or how high competition is, what makes us stand out is who we are, and how we present ourselves.  

Assuming one can do their job well, and compound that by looking professional, wearing coordinated colours, well-kept heels, and being well-groomed, chances of noticing that person has just skyrocketed. Studies even show that wearing the appropriate amount of makeup to highlight facial features, projects confidence and professionalism. We wish it were only down to ability and what’s on the inside, but unfortunately, when we meet people, we formulate opinions in just a few seconds; it's just human nature. 

ABC - Behavior & Communication

Behavior and communication are also fundamental pillars of our personal brand and can determine how we stand out. When we remember to make genuine eye contact, or project confidence in our voice or body language we are more likely to connect with others, create deeper rapport with people and have a lasting impression. 

When I work with organizations to help employees improve their first impression, it baffles me to walk the office floor where people keep their eyes down, refrain from engaging in conversation or speak in a barely audible voice that has me straining to hear every word. In comparison to people that engage in conversation, and connect to your energy level, who to their benefit, leave a lasting positive impact. 

In a world where we know what we want, we need to get out of our comfort zone, and if need be, fake it till we make it. If you are shy or introverted, it may mean practicing during online meetings to speak with enthusiasm and maintaining eye contact. This can help you be heard compared to more vocal colleagues. All change requires practice and time, and to evolve into who we want to be, firstly requires mental space to reflect on what needs to be improved and a consistent plan to reach that. 

One In A Million

We are all unique and special, and our talents and experience define who we are. At the same time, we never want years to pass by and look back with regret that we didn't adapt or change or evolve into a better version of ourselves. Remember, that in a work setting, we are firstly drawn to people that can get the work done. But at the same time, in an environment where we spend at least 8 hours a day, we want to be surrounded by friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic people. It may mean that changing aspects of your attire to appear more professional or behave is a more authoritative way to get your team inspired or communicate with more clarity and passion. 

Each day is an opportunity to try and keep up with the ever-changing life we have, so don't waste another minute to make the changes you want to stand out and get noticed.

Shireena Shroff Manchharam is a Her World Tribe member, the founder and principal consultant of Sheens Image Consulting, and the founder and creator of Getting to Happy, a mental health movement to inspire our community and society to live happier, more mindful lives.