Compete with your last best impression
manufacturing processes, and it is one of the elements which led to the success of Japanese manufacturing through high quality and low costs. However, you can gain the benefits of the approach in many other working environments too, and at both a personal level or for your whole team or organisation.
in the previous installments in this series we established that in face-to-face communications, the professional world demands making a great first impression and keeping it. We highlighted that it takes just a quick glance for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time — in this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms and how you are dressed. in this last installment in the series on lasting confidence however, are the ones where you impress yourself instead of others. it is easy to win. it is tougher to win when it requires you to be at the top of your game and constantly improving. But it is so much more meaningful. in the same way, lasting motivation comes from the bars we set high for ourselves. For the best measuring stick, it is important to look to your past and to your potential. More often than not, when you commit to being your best, the victories will come anyway. it is good to make yourself uncomfortable by finding joy in always outdoing yourself. You need to challenge yourself to evolve, trying not to do the same thing twice so that you can continue to grow.
Though is a tool used by corporations to achieve greater innovation, productivity and general excellence, it’s also an approach that we can learn from and apply to our own lives as we strive for continuous improvement on a more personal level. This can be called “Personal
You too can take the spirit of and apply it to your own unique personal approach to improve — step-by-step, littleby-little — your image, knowledge, and skill. A culture of continuous improvement enables individuals to grow, learn and contribute to the overall goals of institutions, work environments, communities and families and nations. A few things you can consider as you embark on this journey of continuous self-improvement:
1. Commitment to change
requires a commitment and a strong willingness to change. each journey begins with a single step. What is important is to keep moving forward. Big, sudden improvements are not necessary — what is important is that you are always looking for ideas that you can build on. Over the long-term these add up to great improvements.
2. You have not yet arrived
in spite of how good things may seem now, there is always room for improvement. While it is good to celebrate how far you have come it is equally important to consider how far you have yet to go, it is about being open to seeing the lessons around you, and possessing the capacity and willingness to learn and improve.
3. Invest in reflective moments
While the company of friends and family is often enjoyable and warm, true growth occurs when you are able to take reflective time to be alone and meditate on how far you have come, where you are and how far you would like to go. Consider taking long walks alone. Besides relieving stress and keeping you fit, exercise harnesses within it the power to stimulate fresh ideas and perspectives.
4. Allow room for experimentation and mistakes
People learn through a process of trial and error. it is important to operate out of your comfort zone and discover new things about you that you did not know without being overwhelmed by the fear of making mistakes.
5. Enhance your appearance
Since self-image is the conceptual, visual display of your self-esteem, assess those things which display yourself. Sharpen all of the expressions of your life by keeping your appearance and surroundings well-maintained.
is a communications and personal development consultant. She is the managing consultant of Wholeness Incorporated. Her published book titles include,
and A mindset shift towards a developed Africa.” E-mail: