Be your own brand; HOW TO CONTROL IMAGE AT WORK.

Byline: POLLY WEEKS

THE boss thinks he's a confident, go-getter, yet the rest of the office are of the opinion he's an arrogant, work-shy shambles.

Sound familiar? In the workplace it's easy to see how colleagues' self-awareness often falls short of reality.

To find out whether I'm just as bad as the rest - and how I can improve my office image - I embark on a taster session at Personal Presentation.

Founded in 1989 by actress Julia Goodman, the company aims to help business people learn how to communicate more effectively.

Using a programme called You Brand, Goodman and the team analyse their clients' strengths and weaknesses to see how people can improve in their work (and personal) lives.

Walking into the meeting room I'm full of trepidation - what if I'm told everyone at work probably hates me? After a brief chat with my mentor Goodman, she states: "You're very different from the way you come across on the phone". No further information offered, I'm left wondering whether I'm better in person or not.

Forcing the question to the back of my mind, I focus on the job at hand and I'm soon put at ease. There will be no major criticisms of my personality here, just a few home truths about the way I present myself.

Goodman explains why it's important to address this: "When we meet people, the first impression is vital.

Around 60% of our opinion of someone is based on their appearance. A further 30% comes from how they sound. This 90% overly influences the remaining 10% of what the person actually says. This means emotionally driven judgments are made before you even speak."

With this in mind, we get started on how I come across. Focussing on my body language, Goodman tells me I'm good at keeping up eye contact and making good facial expressions.

However, I'm reluctant to use my arms to make gestures, which in turn would help make what I'm saying sound more believable. On top of this, I talk far too fast. Carrying out exercises to help change my body language, I'm soon flinging out my arms when I want to make a point, plus I've slowed down my speech.

"You're an introvert," Goodman explains.

This comes as quite a shock. I've always thought myself to be an outgoing team member who if anything needs a quick shove to stop talking.

However Goodman quickly adds: "This means you'll be fine standing on a stage addressing lots of people but would struggle in an intimate business setting."

Next we move on to how work-based relationships can be improved. Goodman uses famous Psychotherapist Eric Berne's Transactional Analysis model to look at behaviour.

This involves realising that in ourselves we have parent, adult and child ego states. The parents act as the voice of authority, the child is how we respond to the authority and the adult is how these family figures manifest themselves.

So, if you are far too critical of yourself and tell yourself off, the 'child' in you may respond by either acting submissively or aggressively. However if your 'parent' is overly nurturing, you may either rely on them too much and not take responsibility for your actions or take advantage of the situation.

Goodman says the key to a good work life is to take control of situations.

That way it's possible to respond in the appropriate way and build on your personality to ensure the right impression is made. Stop second-guessing other people's opinions.

You can only control your own responses," Goodman tells me.

By the end of the three-hour session, I'm more vocal, standing up for myself as well as understanding when it's better to say nothing at all.

The experience has been worthwhile and I feel like my 'brand' has been well and truly developed.

. For further details about Personal Presentation visit www.personalpresentation.co.uk