What is Image Consulting?

An image consultant helps assess, improve and coach clients on their personal style, visual appearance, grooming habits, etiquette, and communication skills. Image consultants work with individuals across all industries and at any stage in their careers to find the optimal image that fits both a client's personal taste and professional goals.

Dressing for Success

One of an image consultant's primary roles is working with clients to curate a professional and polished wardrobe. This involves assessing a client's existing clothes and accessories to identify strengths and weaknesses in terms of fit, styles, colors and fabrics that either enhance or detract from one's image goals. Consultants provide tailored recommendations for building a versatile work-appropriate capsule wardrobe within a client's budget. They also advise on proper care and maintenance of professional attire.

Boosting Self-Confidence through Style

By helping clients feel confident and comfortable in what they wear, image consultants empower their clients to also feel self-assured both internally and externally. Consultants work to identify styles that accentuate a client's best assets while minimizing areas they may feel self-conscious about. Recommendations are tailored specifically with each client's body type, lifestyle and personality in mind. The goal is to ensure clients feel like the best version of themselves every time they get dressed.

Refining Nonverbal Communication

Another key area addressed by image consulting is nonverbal communication through practices like posture, eye contact, hand gestures and facial expressions. Consultants observe clients in professional interactions and provide constructive feedback on ways to refine invisible habits that leave strong nonverbal impressions, both positive and negative, during conversations, presentations or meetings. Areas of focus may include refining a firm yet warm handshake, engaging yet attentive eye contact or relaxing tense facial expressions.

Mastering Social Skills

Executive image consultants coach on social skills important for career success like etiquette, dining etiquette and conversation skills. Clients learn proper introductions, respectful ways to disagree and tips for making small talk in professional settings. Consultants also role play different social scenarios clients may encounter, from networking events to client dinners or industry conferences to help build confidence in these situations. The goal is for clients to feel at ease in any professional social setting.

Sharpening Communication Skills

Polished written, verbal and digital communication complete an executive image. Consultants may suggest tailored recommendations for a client's professional website, online profile photos, email signature and more. They also role play presentations, meetings, phone calls and interviews to provide feedback on a client's verbal delivery, word choice, tone of voice and ability to concisely convey their message and accommodate different communication styles. Consultants aim to help clients express themselves with eloquence, empathy and charisma in all mediums.

Sustaining Image Goals

Top image consultants understand maintaining professional branding requires continuous effort. To reinforce newly learned image skills, consultants schedule periodic check-ins and touchpoints to ensure clients stick to agreed upon regimens for their career wardrobes, daily routines and communication habits. Consultants also evaluate ways to address new image issues or goals that arise as a client's role or company culture changes over time. The end goal is to provide lifelong image support empowering clients to achieve and sustain professional success on their own terms.

In conclusion, top-tier executive image consultants take a holistic approach to help clients make a strong, polished first and lasting impression alignment with their career aspirations and personal brand. Consultants assess all visual, nonverbal and social factors impacting a client's professional image and provide specialized coaching to improve innate skills and boost confidence. Through tailored recommendations and ongoing support, consultants guide clients in continuously refining their image to reach its highest potential.