Creating a Positive Image

• Strangers and friends form first impressions, highlighting the importance of a positive image when unfamiliar.
• Focus on the impressions you make and avoid prejudging others based on initial impressions.
• A positive image boosts confidence, improves communication, and aids career development.

Positive Image

• Professional image reflects one's appearance and reputation.
• A professional image includes dressing well, speaking properly, responding appropriately, and having others speak well of you.

Factors for Creating a Positive Image

• Personal hygiene
• Personal grooming
• Poise and mannerisms

Purpose of Personal Hygiene

• Maintaining personal hygiene accounts for 55% of the impact of a first impression.

Impact of Poor Personal Hygiene

• Poor hygiene increases the chances of ailments and infectious diseases.
• Poor hygiene indicates feelings of low self-esteem, lack of confidence, or depression.

Factors to Ensure Good Personal Hygiene

• Oral care
• Hand and nail care
• Body care
• Skin care
• Facial hair removal
• Foot care
• Hair care

Oral Care

• Bad breath is caused by bacteria on the tongue, certain foods (garlic, onions), smoking, medication, gum disease, tooth decay, and dehydration.
• Reduce bad breath by brushing and flossing, cleaning the tongue, using mouthwash, drinking water, chewing sugar-free mints, regular dental visits, and avoiding smoking and strong foods.

Body Care

• Cleaning involves removing dirt, dead skin cells, and trapped body oils.
• Soap breaks down oils for easy removal.
• Hot showers open pores for a deep clean.
• Wash folds and pits, scrub skin, and dry completely before dressing.
• Body odor is caused by food and the mixing of sweat and skin bacteria.
• Reduce body odor by wearing cotton, avoiding tight clothes, cleaning regularly, and using products like antiperspirants and medicated powders.

Removing Facial Hair

• Tweezing is a cheap method for taming eyebrows and removing occasional hairs.
• Depilatories break down hair for easy removal in 5-10 minutes but contain harsh chemicals that can burn the skin.
• Dermaplaning is a version of shaving that removes the top layer of skin and hair with results lasting about two weeks.
• Waxing lasts about four weeks but can cause redness, irritation and is a harsh exfoliation process particularly on sensitive skin.
• Sugaring uses natural ingredients like lemon juice, sugar, and water, is gentler than waxing and hair-free results last up to six weeks.
• Threading is an ancient method using string for precise shaping and lasts up to six weeks.
• Coil hair removers grab hair straight from the root.
• Laser hair removal uses pulsed light for permanent hair reduction and may require several treatments with thinner and lighter hair returning over time until it eventually may not return at all.
• Electrolysis uses an electric current to zap individual hairs and requires several treatments.
• Prescription cream reduces facial hair growth over 4-8 weeks, and hair grows back slower and softer.

Foot Care

• Foot odor is caused by damp shoes, walking barefoot in wet areas, and sharing footwear.
• Reduce foot odor by keeping feet dry, airing out shoes, changing to coton socks daily, using medicated foot powder, trimming toenails, and avoiding sharing personal items.

Hair Care

• Washing hair improperly can cause it to become brittle and unmanageable.
• Avoid daily washing
• Always detangle hair before washing
• Choose a suitable shampoo
• Use warm water for washing to open the hair cuticle and do a final rinse in cold water to close it
• Gently massage the scalp and roots of the hair using fingertips/pads of fingers.
• Apply conditioner from mid-shaft to the ends of the hair.

Hand and Nail Care

• The skin on the back of hands is thin, and the palm lacks natural lubricants.
• Wash hands with soap and water or use sanitizers to reduce germs.
• Massage hands with cream after washing and before bed.

Skin Care

• Skin regulates body temperature, insulates, and produces vitamin D.
• Use cleansers with moisturizers, alcohol rubs, lotions, and sunscreen.
• Avoid touching your face and leave pimples alone.
• Wash, exfoliate, and moisturize skin every night.

Concept of Personal Grooming

• Personal grooming makes one look neat and attractive.
• Good grooming boosts self-esteem and improves others' perceptions.

Factors for a Well-Groomed Appearance

• Clean and neat attire
• Neat and tidy hairstyle
• Groomed nails
• Clean and well-maintained shoes
• Managing facial and body hair
• Applying deodorants and fragrances
• Applying skin care and makeup

Clean and Neat Attire

• Wearing well-fitted and ironed clothes gives a tidy and clean look.

Neat and Tidy Hairstyle

• Keep hairstyles simple and manageable, trim hair regularly and check company policy to ensure the hairstyle fits in with the company’s culture.
• Hair styling products like wax, mousse, gel, and spray can cause build-up; shampoo hair after use and never sleep with any product in your hair.

Groomed Nails

• Cut them weekly. For fingernails use a pair of small clippers and cut to the contour of the nails. For toenails, cut them straight across. Polish to minimise bumps on the polish. Use base coat to prevent yellowing of the nails. Also, wait for the base coat of polish to dry fully before adding any coloured polish.
• Acceptable nail polish colours: nude, corals, pinks, peaches, grey
• Unacceptable nail polish colours: blue, green, black, white

Clean and Well-Maintained Shoes

• Shoes indicate much about an individual.
• Men's shoes should be black or brown, low cut, lace-up, fine leather, and polished.
• Ladies are to maintain shoes regularly, including repairing chipped heels.

Managing Facial and Body Hair

• Facial hair includes beard, moustache, nose hair, ear hair, and unibrows. Body hair includes armpit and leg hair.
• Facial hair should be well-trimmed.
• Remove unwanted facial hair by tweezing, waxing, depilatories, or bleaching.
• Remove unwanted hair by trimming, shaving or waxing.
• Lather shaving area, shave after showering, avoid pressing the razor, and soothe skin after shaving.

Application of Deodorants and Fragrances

• Use perfume/cologne sparingly to enhance, not overpower.
• Apply scents to warm skin (pulse points) and after showering.
• Keep fragrances closed in a cool, dark place preferably and use it within a year or two upon opening.

Application of Skin Care and Makeup

• Basic skincare includes cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and sunblock.
• Remove makeup before cleansing.
• Conservative makeup enhances natural beauty.
• Dry skin: protect with oil-based cream, avoid alcohol and alcohol based products, consume oily fish and Omega-3 oils.
• Normal skin: use gentle products.
• Oily skin: avoid fried/fatty foods and use oil-free skincare.
• Combination skin: select products for combination skin and use separate products per skin area based on skin type/condition if necessary.
• Sensitive skin: use all-natural ingredient products, watch for food allergies, and test products before full use.
• Acne-prone skin: cleanse, avoid touching pimples, keep hair clean, seek medical advice, avoid sun exposure, change washcloths and pillow cases.
• Laser resurfacing and products with alpha-hydroxyl acids can treat acne scars.
• Foundations even out skin tone and should match the jawline.
• Loose powders set foundation and give a matte finish.
• Eyebrow pencils should tone on your hair colour and not be black.
• Eye shadow enhances the eyes.
• Eye liner should match the eye shadow colour.
• Mascara darkens lashes to make them appear longer and fuller.
• Blusher gives skin a natural glow.
• Lip liners prevent lipstick from feathering.
• Lipsticks accentuate the lips.

Poise and Deportment

• Poise is self-confidence, steadiness, and stability.
• Project confidence through posture, body language, standing, walking, sitting, and gesturing.
• Personal style is how one expresses themselves through aesthetic choices.

Ways to Develop Poise

• Poise involves awareness, flexibility, and daily practice.

Personal Poise

• Tonality of voice
• Body posture
• Maintaining composure

Tonality of Voice

• Optimistic and positive tone of voice is desired.
• The tone of voice impacts team dynamics and productivity.

Body Posture

• Good posture involves standing, walking, and sitting straight.
• Stand straight with head erect and chin.

Maintaining Composure

• Maintain control and remain calm in any situation.
• Recognize emotions, but don't let them control you.

Methods for Improving Communication

• Improve listening skills
• Empathy
• Nonverbal communication skills
• Teamwork

Methods to Become Conversational Diverse in Various Topics

• Know how to start, hold and end a conversation smoothly
• Know your crowd and do your research
• Current local / world events
• Trending issues
• Volunteer work