You started your career at a young age. Over
the years, you diligently worked your way up through the organization.
You perfected your skills as an officer. You may have had training in
defensive tactics, weapon use, witness protection, officer survival, domestic
violence, and alcohol abuse. Now, however, you're a police executive-and
that requires a whole new set of skills.
As a leader of your organization, you have to be concerned
about the image you project in the community you serve. Everything you
do is a reflection on the department's image. Whether you're involved
in a community picnic, a neighborhood gripe session, a budget meeting,
or a formal dinner, it's important to know the skills that will enable
you to best represent your department. Police executives, like business
executives, need to understand the fundamentals of business etiquette.
Here are some tips.
Package Yourself as an Executive
Image shouldn't matter…but it does. Psychologists tell us it
takes less than 15 seconds for others to form an impression of us, and
they base their impression on what they see. In that short time, they
assume your social status, your economic status, your educational level,
and your likelihood of succeeding. You represent the department. Your
appearance must reflect that at all times.
As a police executive, you may find that you don't
wear your uniform as often as you used to. Just as there are strict
regulations as to how your uniform should be worn, there are guidelines
for projecting a professional image in business attire as well.
For the Male Police Executive: Your shirt collar should
lie flat and not buckle. Men get their necks measured for their first
prom; 30 years later, they believe their neck is still a "size
15." You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably into your
shirt collar. If you can't, the collar is too small. Go up to the next
half size: you will feel more comfortable, and you won't have the urge
to unbutton the top button of your dress shirt. Also, don't wear a short-sleeve
shirt with a sport coat.
With the shirt comes the tie. Your tie should touch
the top of your belt. If you have gained weight over the years, make
sure your ties are not too short: short ties project a negative image.
Your socks should cover your calves; other people should
not see your bare leg when you sit down. Your shoes should be polished
at all times, as worn-down heels and scuffed shoes present an unprofessional
appearance. Do not carry your pens, pager, or cell phone in your front
shirt pocket. The best place for these items is the inside pocket of
your suit jacket. If the weather is warm and you're not wearing your
jacket, invest in an envelope-style leather portfolio to carry those
items in.
As men age, they get hair in places they never had
hair before. They start to see longer hair in their nose and growing
out of their ears. If this is happening to you, buy an ear and nose
trimmer from your local drug store. It is battery operated and makes
personal grooming a snap.
For the Female Police Executive: The matched suit is
the most appropriate clothing choice. Matched suits position you as
an authority figure in your organization. Focus on tailored clothing.
Dark colors, firm fabrics, and solids are more authoritative than light
colors, soft fabrics, and geometric patterns.
If you are not wearing a matched suit, combining a
jacket with slacks or a skirt is your next best choice. A jacket represents
power and authority. Men have learned this secret long ago. Men never
take their jackets off during a business meeting; women should follow
the same practice.
A blouse with a collar is more authoritative than a
v-neck or scoop-neck blouse. Avoid sexy attire. Be careful about showing
too much skin: plunging necklines and short skirts diminish your credibility.
Select shoes that are appropriate for the business
world. Avoid sling-backs and extremely
high-heeled shoes. One way to keep your shoes looking like new is to
keep an old pair of shoes or sneakers in your car to use when driving.
Then, when you arrive at your destination, simply change into your good
shoes. This prevents them from getting rug burn on the back.
In addition to our professional appearance, we need
to be aware of basic business etiquette.
Practice Business Etiquette
The old saying is true: actions speak louder than words. People will
be observing your actions whenever they come in contact with you, and
you want those actions to create positive impressions with the constituents
in your community. Here then are some tips on handling public situations
with poise.
If you are attending a community event, be sure to mingle and introduce
yourself to people in the crowd, including people you don't know. Be
accessible to talk with people about their concerns. Resist the urge
to spend all your time conversing with friends and acquaintances.
It's important always to stand when shaking hands with
someone. Shake hands with men and women alike; smile, make good eye
contact, and shake web-to-web. (That is, grasp the other hand fully
with your hand - don't simply clasp the other person's fingers).
Many events involve wearing nametags. In the military, you may have
been trained to wear your nametag on the left. In the business world,
however, the proper placement is on the right: this makes it easy for
others to see your name when they shake hands with you. If you are attending
an event where food is served, do not eat and drink at the same time.
Hold your drink or plate in your left hand. That leaves your right hand
free to shake hands with someone you meet.
Make an effort to remember people's names. If you have
trouble with this, be sure to use the name three times in the conversation.
Apologize if you forget, and ask someone to repeat his or her name.
When someone forgets your name, be gracious and offer it again. Pay
attention to how others introduce themselves. If a man introduces himself
as Jonathan, he does not want to be called Jon. A woman who gives her
name as Christine clearly prefers Christine to Chris.
Develop good conversation skills. A good way to get
the conversation rolling is to use an opening line: a statement, a question,
or a self-revelation. For example, "The room is packed tonight"
could be your opening statement. You might use "Is this your first
neighborhood association meeting?" as a question. And a self-revelation
might be "I'm always afraid to talk to people for fear that I've
arrested their grandmother."
If you are meeting in your office with media contacts
or city officials, set the tone for a positive encounter. The way you
greet visitors can affect the outcome of the meeting. Don't keep them
waiting. Get off to a good start by greeting the visitors personally
in the waiting room; don't have your assistant escort the guests to
your office. Shake hands appropriately and make the proper introductions
to those involved in the meeting. Upon arrival at your office, allow
your guests to proceed first into the room, and indicate where they
should sit. Position the chairs so that your guests are not seated directly
across from your desk; instead, place their chairs to the side of your
desk, or have everyone sit at a small table. Don't accept calls or interruptions
during the meeting. When the meeting is over, stand, shake hands once
again, and walk your guests back to the waiting room.
Everything you do is a reflection on your department's
image. How you dress, how you act, and how others respond to you
are all part of that image. Therefore, knowing business etiquette
can help you be more successful as a police executive. Use these
tips to present a polished image in the community you serve.
Are
you interested in discussing what we can do to help you?
Contact
us for a free 1/2 hour consultation
today!
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Juanita Ecker, President of
Professional Image Management, provides corporate training on meeting
and tradeshow etiquette, dining etiquette, business decorum, networking
skills, telephone manners, professional image and business casual. She
can be reached at (518) 279-9388,
by e-mail at image3@nycap.rr.com,
and via the Web at www.professionalimagemgt.com.