AMAV VICDOC SUMMER 2023 - Magazine - Page 69
W
hen I met Hannah, she’d been working
as an inner-city specialist in a wellestablished, busy practice.
After years of practicing in her area of specialty
and 18 months of feeling a little stale, she decided
to actively pursue her passion – mentoring junior
doctors and entering the medical education space.
Once she’d made the decision, she was both relieved
and fearful: How would this career change impact
her future? Would she continue to have job security?
Would she be successful? Would she again
feel fulfilled, purposeful?
As with any major life transition, change can be
scary and anxiety provoking. The feelings of letting go,
of losing control, uncertainty, inviting in or responding
to unknowns, can be unsettling. However, during times
of change, one thing you can control is how you show
up: physically, mentally and more specifically through
your professional brand and style.
Change presents a unique opportunity to do
things differently — to reinvent yourself and show
up exactly how you choose to at this stage in your
professional and personal life.
Therefore, in working with Hannah to help her
navigate her career change we adopted the superhero
principle. All superheros wear capes — or some form
of uniform, costume or armour that not only makes
them look powerful, but shows others they are in
charge, in command and confident. Before that
outfit change, our heroes are mere mortals!
As a personal stylist, one of my objectives when
working with a client is to style them in a way that
represents who they are and who they want to be,
giving them the confidence to achieve anything
they set out to do.
In four sessions working with Hannah, we defined
her style goals, edited her wardrobe, shopped for her
‘uniform’ and organised new corporate headshots.
This process empowered her, enabling her to
confidently step into her new career, projecting an
image that aligned with her professional brand and
eliminated the daily stress of knowing what to wear.
If you’re embarking on a career or life transition,
here are four things to consider in order to make ‘like
a superhero’ and be in-control of how you show up:
WHAT IMAGE DO YOU WANT
TO PROJECT TO THE WORLD?
—
Style is a way of saying who we are without having
to speak. So, when I asked Hannah what she wanted
her style to say about her in her new role, some of the
words that came up were — professional, approachable,
knowledgeable and well-put together.
When thinking about what you want to project,
consider both your work persona and your off-duty
persona. Is it the same? Think about your field of
expertise, your personality and most importantly
words that align with your values.
WHAT CLIENTS WOULD YOU LIKE?
—
In Hannah’s case, in her new role as mentor and
teacher, she wanted to set an example of how
medical professionals could present themselves.
Think about your ideal clients or patients. This is
important because you want your professional brand
to be something that a potential client or patient can
feel comfortable with. You want them to feel like
you understand them, their needs and their issues.
You want your brand to build their trust.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CLIENTS /
PATIENTS REMEMBER VISUALLY WHEN
THE Y THINK OF YOU AND YOUR SERVICE?
—
It’s important here to think of what specialty you’re in
and the expectations your clients would have of you.
If your professional brand matches these expectations,
rapport and trust is more easily earned.
In medicine, your patients expect to meet a
hygienic, clean and tidy professional.
When your patients’ expectations of your personal
brand are matched or exceeded by those you project,
the focus then becomes on you, your experience and
what you deliver.
DEVELOP A UNIFORM
—
The clothes we wear have a proven effect on how we
feel about ourselves and how we perform. It is referred
to as ‘enclothed cognition’ and describes the systematic
influence clothes have on the wearers’ psychological
processes. Research suggests this is only the case when
we attribute meaning to what we wear. By choosing a
‘uniform’ we believe represents the image we want to
project, we can present our best selves and live this as
our truth.
A uniform also eliminates the daily decision
around what to wear. Hannah’s uniform consisted
of a blazer, non-iron shirt, pants and stylish loafers.
The blazer was a key wardrobe item which added
instant professionalism – her superhero cape.
When developing your own uniform, find images of
style that represent the words you want to project. Save
the images on your phone for reference when shopping.
Also consider your lifestyle and the type of core
items you need to facilitate your new career.
Of course, there is a lot more to a successful career
transition than just what you wear. It’s about putting
yourself out there in your new field. Speaking up,
contributing to relevant groups, conferences, papers
and building your network online and in-person.
Ultimately, a successful career transition is one that
projects to the world the most accurate view of who
you are, what you stand for and the value you bring.
Dressing to be the best version of yourself will give
you the confidence to communicate your brand
with the people who matter.
—
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