Act as if - The Art of Impression Management

"Acting 'as if' works better than any kind of thinking, because when you’ve done something, you feel proud of yourself—even if you didn’t do well" is a quote by Barbara She from her book, I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It.

'Act as if' sounds better than 'fake it till you make it' and the concept is basically the same. Often in life we need to set the right impression for ourselves in order to find the success or next evolution we are looking for. I call it Impression Management. It is important to succeed in finding the impression we want to make on ourselves, in order to feel good, to go out into the world and achieve the change we want to see. Normally when we think of impressions, it is about how we are perceived by others.

For me, impression management means looking in the mirror and seeing the sort of person we are creating and embracing that person, supporting that transition and making it feel as good as possible. The reason I wear a suit is because it makes me feel good, professional and sharp. In Opera, I wore the costumes that were asked of me and played the characters I needed to. I never got to wear a suit day to day as it wasn't in my companies culture.

Now my character is me and I am in control about what this version of David wears, how he feels, acts, thinks and proceeds in the world of being an Entrepreneur. This choice empowers me to create the change I want to see, to be empathic with others and to act as if more professional and sharp.
The positivity and energy I bring to my clients is as a result of cultivating some very deliberate habits.
From the shoes I wear, to the briefcase or satchel I carry, I send a message to myself which then sends a message to the world. What does your image say about you?

In order to help you feel better and to grow your self-impression consider the following -

• What clothing and accessories makes you feel good? If you want to wear colour. Wear it!
• The impression you make goes way beyond your clothing, to how you stand and walk. Watch out for habits like slouching or not being on your core. Standing well sends energy and strength to all parts of your body. It allows you to walk down the street with more confidence and means you will avoid injury. I have started bouncing for 10 minutes a day which really helps me alignment my body.
• Shake hands and say your name with confidence. Don't rush your name but see it as a gift that you are giving to someone else. Say it right and you send the right message, you are important, your name is worth remembering and combined with taking time to remember and use the name of the person you are meeting, you send the right impression to you and to them.
• Work on your daily routine. The impression we give ourselves takes time to build and we have to reinforce the good feelings. Have specific tasks you do each day that are easy that build your confidence. Not challenges, but just stuff you can do.

Whatever happens in your day, if you at least 'act as if' as Barbara Sher says, you can feel proud of yourself. You can know that you have tackled the day in a more positive way and that you have given yourself the best impression. No one else is going to do it for you and no one really cares whether you do or don't. It is up to you to make the best of your own situation, so you need take care of the impression you give yourself. No one will do it for you and if you rely on the compliments of others for self-esteem and courage then stop. Give yourself courage and self-esteem by knowing you are setting and deciding on what impression to make in the world.

'Act as is' and  very quickly you will become the person you want to be.