The results of Google research on communication show that 35 percent of what we communicate is through our visual appearance, 7 percent is verbal with the words we choose, and 58 percent is through our non-verbal communication (as in our body language and facial expressions).

From my years in sales and after attending hundreds of networking events, I have observed a pattern of personality traits. From that, I developed some basic character styles to best demonstrate these communication traits and to help teach a lesson that we can all learn about ourselves and others.

Please keep in mind that we usually have a combination of all these traits and in different intensities. I am, and always will be, a student of life. If you analyze yourself very honestly and realize your intensity level is way too concentrated in any one character, then, of course, you will want to examine that issue and consciously adjust the belief in yourself that causes the behavior.

So what is your intensity and style?

Not sure? Ask those around you. Not everyone will be able to be completely frank with you, but if you are not reaching success or developing relationships from your networking efforts, then you really need to know why. Here are a few styles:

People Watcher/Wall Flower: This is the person who stands off to the side, not really reaching out but watching everyone around her. She is concentrating on every detail of what others are wearing and how they express themselves.

N-E-X-T!: This is the person who is perfectly comfortable walking up to anyone and evaluating whether they are someone with whom he or she can do business. That judgment can occur within 10 to 30 seconds, and if you don’t make the cut, he will always remember you, smile, and call you by name — but won’t stop to chat since he is concentrating on the fresh blood walking in the door. This is the man (or woman) with a plan. Unfortunately this personality usually doesn’t make many deep connections unless he’s in a business relationship.

Drama Queen: She loves to connect people and usually needs to be the most outspoken at the table as she flutters about having a connection to everyone in some way. The Drama Queen is who we go to when we need an introduction or to have our memories freshened about someone. Drama Queens usually look out for the wallflowers and try to push them along into networking. The one thing a DQ needs and expects is to be acknowledged for the connection. If you forget, she will remember, and you may never get another connection. So beware!

Card Pusher: The one goal of this personality type is to put a business card into every hand possible. These people believe that card pushing is the definition of networking and don’t realize it’s more important to make meaningful connections to other persons.

Settled In: She cases the room to find the best seat to fit all her needs; it’s near an escape route and restrooms, has the best view of the speakers, and is one of the first tables to go up to the buffet. She makes room to put her things, sits down, and waits for the show to start. Oh, and lunch, of course! She then greets familiar faces to join her by saying she has saved them a seat and then proceeds to surround herself by people with whom to chat. She’s happy to meet new faces but prefers them at a distance (like across the table, not next to her).

If you have comments about any of these styles or wonder how you fit in, contact me.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

When you see one of these style faux pas, you know it’s wrong to stare, but you just can’t help it. Some blunders are not so noticeable, but others are glaring.

In professional settings the time has come that managers and HR departments are paying the price for the creation of “business casual” attire. When business casual became popular, it fulfilled its purpose: helping some employees relax from the matched suit day after day. It was usually just for Fridays, but over the decades, it has become everyday, and from what I’m seeing and hearing, in some businesses, it’s often weekend wear seven days a week. Oh my, that wasn’t the intention. Now we see sloppy, dated, ill-fitting clothes every day. Here is a list of some of the worst image “killing offences.”

Women:

Leggings are not pants – even if you do have a nice tush.

Head-to-toe trend or designer – wearing any animal or flower print from head to toe, including accessories. Wearing Michael Kors everything doesn’t show style; its shows that you don’t know what personal style is and you need to borrow it. This also communicates that you are more about fashion than business.

Flip-flops – only appropriate at the beach! Unless your office has sand in lieu of carpeting, leave the flip-flops at home.

Over accessorizing – putting on all your favorite and then some doesn’t make you appear serious for business and will be distracting to everyone.

Too much make-up – totally distracting, and with all the free videos and advice available at one’s fingertips, completely avoidable.

VPL – with all the billions of dollars women spend on undergarments, why in the world would you not take the time to avoid all those lines? It’s distracting, especially to the opposite sex. This photo also shows the hazard of too tight clothing, a caution to being mindful of what your image is telling others about you.

Men:

White socks with leather shoes – need I say more?

Dress shirts not tucked in.

Know the difference between a dress shirt and a sport shirt, and wear appropriately.

Avoid clunky, rubber-soled, square-toe, unpolished or fake leather shoes.

Both Men and Women:

Price tags on the bottom of your shoes? . . . Really?

Cut your vents! That big X sewn across the vent of your jacket, blazer or coat is only for shipping purposes- it is not a style detail. I see this more often than you might think, so much so I’m going to start carrying a tiny scissors to snip it when I see it!

Lack of tailoring. It’s true – if you spent $1,000 on a suit or dress and wear it without tailoring, it will look like a cheap suit. Tailoring is so key, it can also make a $100 suit look like a $1,000 bucks.

Poor grooming. The quickest way to miss out on opportunities is to not take this seriously. Hair (on the head and anywhere else it grows where others will see it), teeth, skin, breath, nails, brows.

This faux pas list could be much longer, but I wanted to give my top picks and what I see most often in offices across our city. My advice is to always be mindful of the message you are communicating as you walk through your life so that you avoid killing your image.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

We spend our lives investing — investing in a belief system; investing in relationships, from romantic to partnerships, and our children; and investing in life experiences. Although those investments are not financial, they are time investments — a commodity nonetheless.

Throughout our lives we are also investing in our skills, education, training, and knowledge, expecting a return on investment. When we take a course to learn a new skill, such as a new language, we expect it to help us communicate, perhaps while traveling in that country or to receive a promotion at work or to build our resume and make us more desirable for other opportunities. Obviously if you get that much out of learning a new language, it pays off in so many ways. Likewise, when you invest in professional support, such as a CPA, Realtor, business consultant or health coach, you have a expectations of having benefits to save money, choose the right area to live in, make more money, and improve your health.

If you invested in college (or if you parents did), you did so to become a well-rounded individual in order to make a difference in the world and earn a living for your entire life. When we invest our time, energy or money in anything, we expect something in return. Even with the simple act of purchasing a ticket to the movies, we expect to be entertained for our investment.

We invest in grooming (nails, hair, skin etc.) to look our best and feel good. Americans invest billions of dollars in clothing. Yet most do not have a plan for the return on investment (ROI) and hardly even think about it. We randomly purchase whatever is on the mannequin at the local mall – not giving any thought to how that investment will pay off. We shop the latest trends or stock up from the clearance rack without a plan. I often watch teens and 20-somethings shop, and I can tell no one has ever taught them to be mindful consumers. It is a skill that is not being taught to the up-and-coming consumers.

I would like to suggest being mindful of what you are investing in. Do you want to just purchase a fad item ($25) for the summer (divided by five wears equals cost per wear of $5), knowing it will have a quick expiration? That’s fine, but what are you willing to invest and what do you expect to receive for that investment? Are you mesmerized by a leather motorcycle jacket for hundreds of dollars or will a faux version be a more practical investment?

Purchasing a men’s suit ($500-plus) is a substantial investment; knowing the right style, fit, and color is important to know up front. What criteria do you use to decide if it’s the right investment? Wear it one time a week for five years equals CPW $1.92, plus dry-cleaning it one time a month equals $180 a year divided by 52 equals $3.46 CPW.

Do you get overwhelmed in your closet not knowing what to keep and what to shed? Do you find you often have buyer’s remorse? Value, not price, is the best focus when shopping. Perhaps investing in a wardrobe stylist is your next step. Want to invest in your personal brand? The key to being successful and reaping the benefits of a clear message that is communicating 365 days a year is to have a professional support you in what you are visually communicating. Learn what you want your visual branding to communicate and know how to do it with the right cuts, colors, fabrics, and a multitude of other details.

Suggested criteria for investing in your closet:

1. Will this create five or more outfits from what I already own?
2. Is it in my power color palette?
3. Realistically how often will I wear this item?
4. Is this item a transitional piece between seasons?
5. What is the quality; have I ever owned this brand and how did it hold up?
6. Does this item need special care? Am I willing to take care of it?
7. Is this a classic from which I can get years of wear?
8. How do I feel when I wear it?
9. Do I need to invest more into this item to make it fit properly?

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Here are eight ways to tell if you are stuck in a style rut:

1.  Lack of color in your closet. You have 50 shades of grey or black, from tees to suits.
2.  You own more yoga pants (women)/athletic pants (men) than you own tailored pants.
3.  Your first thought when dressing is to “be comfortable.”
4.  You never get compliments on your appearance, and others ask if you are tired.
5.  You experience no joy or excitement when dressing each day.
6.  You’ve had the same hairstyle and/or make-up for over five years.
7.  Over two years ago, you decided not to buy new clothes until you reach your “goal” weight.
8.  Your closet is full, yet you have nothing to wear or you wear the same 20 percent over and over.

Here are eight ways to move OUT of that style rut:

1. Color is CONFIDENCE and ENERGY! Learn to harness it and discover your personal POWER COLORS. You will be shocked at the way you feel!
2. Evaluate your wardrobe and detox your closet from anything that isn’t honoring your NOW body or bringing you joy.
3. Put a full-length mirror where you dress each morning – and use it before, during, and after you dress.
4. Create positive affirmations and hang them up where you will them see each and every day.
5. Learn your body shape – this alone will save you much time, energy, and money.
6. Create a style vision board. Use magazines, catalogs, and your phone to gather visuals of what you would like to move toward in your style.
7. Change one thing. Many times making one positive change motivates you to continue.
8. Create a team of advisers. By investing in your team, from a manicurist and hair stylist to personal wardrobe stylist and image and confidence coach, you can do what you do best — and they will always make sure you look and feel your very best.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Q: My job requires me to travel my Ohio territory three to five days a week. My challenge is not looking like I travel that much when I arrive to a client’s business. How can I keep a fresh appearance after driving many hours? — JT of Akron

A: Thanks for reaching out, JT. I have been asked about this situation over the years and appreciate being able to share some tricks and tips.

As with anything important in our lives, preparation is more than half the battle. Getting the right tools for the job will make your travels more enjoyable, which makes you more productive.

The car must be set up to support you on your travels. Using the passenger seat is the key when traveling alone for long trips. You should be able to keep your eyes on the road while reaching for cool water to stay hydrated so you can keep a fresh face for business. Coffee is fine — a little bit — but it can dehydrate you quickly, and if spilled will cause nasty stains.

Have a command center for communicating and keeping ahead of traffic situations that could delay you. Also have the client on speed dial before you begin your journey; if you are running a few minutes late you can call them, which shows you respect their time.

Obviously keeping your phone charged is important so you are never out of communication, in case the person you are meeting needs to contact you.

Once you have those tools we turn our attention to keeping your wardrobe looking fresh. The ideal scenario would be to travel in casual clothes and change before arriving at the client’s office. I highly recommend hanging your outfits on a clothes bar in your car. You can also get a special coat hanger that attaches to the back of your seat so you can slip on your suit or sport coat when you arrive, keeping it fresh and wrinkle free.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Like it or not, you’re branded the minute you walk through the door.

Would you show up wearing an evening gown to an office meeting on Monday morning? Obviously not! Some of the outfits that people are wearing scream inappropriate, yet they wear them anyway.

When a person you know comes to a meeting looking disheveled, perhaps looking hung over from a long Super Bowl weekend, what would you consider discussing with them about work? Would you launch into a detailed game plan for landing a huge client? Probably not, as you assume they won’t be on top of their game that day and wouldn’t probably have creative out-of-the-box ideas to share. So you look for someone that looks polished, pulled together, and prepared to work.

What about another woman in the office that arrives revealing her “ample assets?” Do you invite her to sit in on an important meeting with a client to discuss the upcoming fiscal quarter?

How about the twenty-something that is more fashionista than career-focused and seems to change her personality monthly as she chases the “next hot trend.” And then she complains that she isn’t being taken seriously and has been passed over for opportunities within the company.

Instead may I suggest it’s easier to move along in your career, save money, earn more respect, and enjoy yourself all while simplifying your life — just by developing your Signature Style Recipe. Of course, this recipe will evolve as you mature and your body shifts and changes over time, as it should.

It doesn’t matter where you are right now today. You may be struggling with weight change, an unsatisfactory wardrobe that doesn’t bring you joy, an image that is close to where you want to be, but not exactly. You may have experienced a recent ending of a relationship and are now ready to open your life to someone new, but you’re just not sure of yourself or how to get back on the dating scene. A consultation will change your life and your perspective.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” — Wayne W. Dyer

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Abundance without purpose is my focus this month, as I see it in most closets.

Be honest with yourself — do you have more clothes, shoes, and jewelry than you really need or use? What is the purpose of having it all? Does it make you feel good? Do you feel organized? Do you feel out of control? Understanding and getting in touch with how your feel is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Apply the ancient art of feng shui, as it will teach you that if your environment is cluttered or in chaos, it will translate into a chaotic, cluttered life with missed deadlines, unhealthy relationships, late fees, and debt. The clutter will continue to spiral out of control in your mind and in the way you look at life.

Here is my opinion, and since I’ve been there and done that, I can honestly say this — filling a bottomless hole is the reason behind abundance without purpose. Filling your life with more stuff isn’t really going to make you feel joy or happiness. Wanting more isn’t the problem. Not understanding why you must have it or how it will improve your life is the problem.

Those of you who have children of all ages might consider giving them the gift of understanding the “why” behind buying more and how it makes you feel. Children today mindlessly want, want, want, and then as teens they buy, buy, buy without understanding why, why, why. As they become adults they end up in debt, debt, debt.

My advice is having rules to apply BEFORE every purchase, and if something doesn’t pass the “buy it” test, then simply don’t. Today I’ll share my rules for purchasing clothes and accessories.

•  Does this item flatter my current body in fit and color?
•  Does this item mix with 50 percent or more of all the other items in my closet?
•  Do I love this item so much I’m willing to shed two or three other items to make room for it?
•  Does this item’s cost divided by its wearability (cost per wear) make sense? In other words, is it a trend item only for one season or a classic item to transition into two or more seasons?

Let me add this when it comes to young children — if all they ever know is a bulging closet and dressers, then they will expect to always have just that. This is how we, as parents, teach clutter and abundance without purpose to our kids. I suggest as they change sizes, which happens very quickly, pack an item or two that is sentimental, then take everything else still in excellent condition to your local resale or consignment shop. Or if you have the dedication to consistently organize, then have a garage sale two to four times a year (depending on ages and number of children).

I would also extend this advice to toys: Teach kids early on to donate or sell two to three toys for each new one they want. Now that’s good parenting that will last a lifetime.

Kids learn:

• Recycling, reusing, repurposing
• Economics, saving, and fiscal responsibility
• Organization and teamwork
• Philanthropy and the joy of giving

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.