What an incredible two months it’s been news cycle wise. We’ve had earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear disaster. Then we had the “wedding of the century” quickly followed by the bloody demise of world’s most wanted man, and of course the fuel crisis. What does this have to with the price of eggs? Have you ever thought about what these huge stories do to us around the world? Well no matter what time of the night or day or where we are it is these stories connect all us globally at the same time whether it’s 8am in Nairobi, midnight New York or ten in the morning in New Delhi. Connect is the key word here, have you explored all the connections available through social media or even from old school networks that you were once a part of like your old mates from school? You have no idea how someone somewhere you once knew can help your business. And if you’re looking for something to say to revive these dead and buried contacts, well bring up these massive global events as part of your conversation, because you know everyone either was watching or has an opinion. When you invoke a common experience, there is an instant feeling of connection.

I hope you find some useful tips in this month's newsletter and as always let us know your thoughts.

With best regards,

Derek

The Image for small Business

The question of image is integral to any business and an image or corporate identity must be formed even before you can hawk your wares or services. It usually the case that the size of an organization will influence the guidelines of its image and the people who work there. Big corporates are often tied to being traditional they may have a history going back several years or decades and are well established. This is a double edged sword because on the one hand the hierarchy and the structure is in place to present a professional image but they are often not quick to change their ways of doing business and because of their size they find it unwieldy to implement change. Younger, nimbler, smaller companies on the other hand can project an image of being progressive, up-to-date, and aware of new innovations, services and approaches.

Think of the biggest and best known corporate names and what is the image that springs to mind? Can you visualize their branding or logo? But what of the image of the people that work there - does their staff live up to the promise? Most small businesses form and prosper off the backs of a few dedicated people willing to wear many hats. Because everyone is expected to get their hands ‘dirty’ as needed, the image of staff who work for a small company may very often be easier and less severe than in the larger corporations. But whoever you are, wherever you are and whatever business you are doing, you are creating an impression. If you run your own company you have to make sure that your image matches what you are selling. If you work in grotty, scruffy premises and dress as though you do, you are more likely to under-perform than if you dress to a higher standard. These help to consciously and sub-consciously project a positive image. I recently had to have some work done in my apartment and I got quotes from several small businesses. Of the two I narrowed down to, I went with the one company because their representative turned up on time, dressed smartly and had all the relevant information on hand. The other firm sent somebody who was covered in all of Nairobi’s dust and gave me some rather dog eared brochures and didn’t seem really bothered whether he got the job or not. Added to the fact the quotes were similar - there was no contest! Now your hackles may already be raised as you read this, wondering how important this really is and isn’t this just being superficial. Well your company image needs to have integrity if you are going to be successful. What you project should be what you are about. Think of how you would like your business to be described. If you say you provide top quality but you dress in shabby, ill fitting clothes will your claim be as believable? Your clothes do not have to be expensive but remember you are the image of your organisation - keep it professional!

What can the small business owner bring to the table in terms of image? Staff and customers respond to confidence and enthusiasm, they are definitely contagious. Nobody wants to do business with someone who is constantly looking and acting beat-down and defeated. At the same time don’t ever let the ‘bigger boys’ in business walk all over you; I’m talking about being assertive here. Assertiveness helps one become more confident whatever business you are in. The iron fist in the velvet glove is a more nuanced way of conducting oneself and the small business owner or manager will very often get extra effort from his or her staff if they recognise that he or she is one of them. In a sense, the top person is approachable as well as being in charge. I also believe that anyone running a small business today should try and exhibit the following qualities;

• Resourcefulness
• Resilience
• Vision

Resourcefulness helps people find ways around problems and seek out solutions to problems themselves. Resilience sees people through in the long term. It is a combination of stamina, being able to cope with being in a competitive world, the capability to overcome barriers and fighting back time and time again without giving in. Vision is important - to be successful you need to have a clear goal of what you want to achieve.
(Written by Derek Bbanga in the May edition of KIM Management magazine)

Recent Work

During the past month we have worked with the staff at Imperial Bank. We also completed a two week Training of the Trainer course for Polly Baru who came all the way from Botswana to be trained by Public Image. Polly Baru receiving a Public Image certificate We also worked on joint trainings with Thorne Consultants and Dolphins Consultants. I was also privileged to be asked to speak at the AKAD Careers and Education Seminar for young people (thanks to Professor Julius Weche) and at the Speaktoafrica monthly S.P.E.A.K Forum (thanks to Wendy Gaya) Panel discussion at the AKAD Careers and Education Seminar In the media – NTV had me come in on the big day of the royal wedding where I was part of the local panel of experts covering the event from a Kenyan perspective. I also did an interview with K24 on preparing oneself for the job market. I was featured on the BBC World Service program Business Daily on dressing for the office. Coming Up Public Image and Dolphin Consultants will be running aTwo day Image and Etiquette seminar on May 26th and 27th at the Stanley. Get more information here or call +254-20-2211362 / 382, +254-712-636 404 to sign up.

Top 10 tips for managing meetings

In a new segment top ten tips, we look at Managing Meetings

1. Appoint a chair person
2. Write an agenda
3. Circulate agenda
4. Start meetings on time
5. Set a time for the meeting to end
6. Be realistic - don’t try to fit in too much
7. Allow everyone to have their say
8. Be strict about time
9. Take notes or minutes
10. Circulate notes or minutes soon after the meeting has taken place

What do you call them?

One of the questions I was asked when being interviewed on NTV as part of the panel covering the royal wedding was how do you greet the queen? The Royal Family has its own protocol, and Palace staff usually brief people before they meet the Queen, but if you happened to be introduced to her initially you would address her as ‘Your Majesty’ and thereafter as ‘Ma’am’ (pronounced like jam). If you do bump into the newly weds in Rutundu or honeymooning on the slopes of Mt Kenya they are now known as the His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge. According to Debretts experts in all things royal, the Prince of Wales's communications secretary, was quoted in The Daily Telegraph as saying 'I think it is absolutely natural that the public might want to call them Prince William and Princess Catherine and no one is going to have any argument with that'

If you couldn’t care less about the royals then let me bring it back home where our President is known as His Excellency and the Prime Ministers full title is the Right Honourable Prime Minister or simply Mr. Odinga. The Rt Hon is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied in Commonwealth countries. If you move in diplomatic circles, an Ambassador is introduced formally as His Excellency, and at a formal occasion you would call him Your Excellency, whereas informally it would be ‘Ambassador’ for a man or a woman. When it comes to the clergy Archbishops and Bishops are introduced as Archbishop and Bishop whereas a Cardinal is addressed as Your Eminence. With the army the order of ranking and address goes Lieutenant Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel being shortened to 'Colonel', and Major General and Lieutenant General being shortened to 'General'.

Are you there?

There are three short words that can transform your social media marketing; "Find us on" (as in "Find us on Twitter" or "Find us on Facebook'). Since most people will use Google to find you, make sure that your company or personal name (or both) is associated with your Twitter feed and Facebook page. For example, if people search for "Alan Stevens twitter", I appear on page 1 of Google, even though my twitter handle is mediacoach.

Of course, there needs to be something interesting on your Twitter or Facebook page when someone finds it. If your latest tweet was sent over a month ago, people won't follow you. Similarly, if all your messages are links to your own pages, or even worse, links to sign up for your courses, then visitors will depart very rapidly. Provided you are delivering engaging content, then post the "Find us on" message on all your marketing material, on your website, and use it in conversation. Once people know you have a social media presence, they will come and find you. This was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk."

Are you looking for a Corporate Emcee for your function – do get in touch

Is your company planning a training event, a sales retreat, or team building?  Find out how Public Image can help at www.publicimageafrica.com or contact derek.bbanga@publicimageafrica.com

Public Image has a new office on the 1st Floor at Luther Plaza, Nyerere Rd (opp. St Paul's Church)

Follow the publicimage blog at http://publicimageafrica.blogspot.com and on twitter at @derekbbanga