ETIQUETTE: How to make people take you seriously

There is nothing worse for a hard working, ambitious woman than to carry a label that suggests she is less than serious, yet deep down she knows different. It is not funny to be called a joker, inconsistent, non-starter, ne’er-do-well, loser and so forth. If you have ever been referred to by anyone using one of these terms, it is time to re-evaluate your strategies and seek to be taken more seriously.

Stand up and be counted as one of the most serious people around. Sometimes, it may be just a few habits that are messing you up. Start implementing this new attitude today and watch yourself begin to soar up the ladder of success.

Develop a no-nonsense attitude:

Stop talking rubbish and making inane comments about everything and nothing. You do not have to talk all the time. Pettiness and gossip will only add to your problem of not being taken seriously.

Begin by talking only about relevant issues. Allow your mind to focus and keep it clear. This way, whatever comes out of your mouth will sound thoughtful and serious.

Dress your age:

One of the things that cause women to be ridiculed and not taken seriously is the matter of dressing. Clothes are an extremely powerful form of body language and could well decide your destiny. If you are approaching or are above 30 and still wearing tight jeans with a faded patch going down the front and back of your thighs, you need help. Do not blame anyone for treating you like a teenager.

These ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ styles will take you nowhere fast. Dress elegantly and appropriately for every function, paying special attention to details and cleanliness. This way, you will not be taken lightly.

Do your work properly:

To gain respect at work, it pays to work well. When your work is near-perfect, you will find yourself in everyone’s good books. Reliability, consistency and lack of drama at all times is the way to go.

Try to avoid the management by crisis way of doing things by planning ahead and having a back-up plan at all times. You will be taken seriously if you deliver what you promise and if you cannot, for whatever reason, keep the other party informed. In this era of email and smart phones, there is no excuse for lack of information. 

Be organised:

Keep your work area or business premises well organised clean. A filing system for all your documents will go a long way in helping you find things.

Allow clients and colleagues to see you as efficient and capable by not having clutter everywhere. Try not to forget things all the time. A notebook to jot down important issues will come in handy. All these measures will change the way you are perceived.