Project Management

Your Professional Image Is Built When You Think Nobody Is Watching

From the The Young Project Manager Blog
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Practical growth for project managers in the early stage of their careers.

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Every day, you have a new chance to shape how people see you.

Your professional image is being built all the time. With every meeting, every message you send, every conversation you have. Whether you notice it or not, you are showing people who you are.

But there is one thing people forget: changing how others see you is very difficult once a first impression is made. It sticks. And fixing it later takes much more energy than getting it right from the beginning.

Wouldn’t it be smarter to take care of this from the first moment?

Of course, everyone will have their own way to build their image. But one thing is non-negotiable: you cannot ignore it. If you do, someone else will define it for you.

A bad impression can quietly destroy an opportunity. It takes seconds. No second chances. And the work to fix a damaged image is heavy. It is not impossible, but it costs time and credibility.

Building your image is not about pretending. It is about preparation. Showing who you are, without exaggerating, but with intention. You show respect for others when you come prepared. When you give your best to each interaction, you are saying: "This is me. You can count on me."

And it is not only about big moments. Small conversations matter. How you greet people. How you listen. How you react. These small things build your image much faster than you think.

This connects to something we hear a lot but often misunderstand: networking.

Many think networking is just collecting contacts, having coffee meetings, exchanging business cards. That is shallow. Real networking is built when people respect you, when they want to stay connected because they know who you are and what you bring.

You do not need to push. You need to attract. Successful people let their work and attitude speak for them. People naturally stay connected because they trust them.

But if you try to force attention, if you fake relationships, people notice. And when they notice, it hurts your image. It feels artificial. It damages more than it helps.

That is why small, silly attitudes, like being unreliable, not keeping promises, acting without thinking, can slowly ruin how people see you. And once that happens, the path to fix it is long and frustrating.

So, do not waste your energy trying to fix what could have been avoided.

Spend your energy where it matters. Focus on the daily, constant work of building your professional image. Quietly, consistently. One step at a time.

That is what brings long-term results.

Posted on: February 14, 2018 04:38 AM | Permalink

Comments (12)

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Drake Settsu Project Manager / Blogger Hi, United States
Good article William!

A damaged image is hard to repair.

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Bruce Gay Principal Consultant| Astrevo Labs Pittsburgh, Pa, United States
Great insights, William. Authenticity and deliberate cultivation of business relationships is key to maintain your professional image.

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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Thanks for sharing this, William!

A person's brand has always been important, but the level of effort involved in developing and protecting it has increased dramatically with the escalating number of options for putting oneself "out there".

Kiron

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Cheikh FAYE Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Expert, CEO and owner| Eurêka Technologies Dakar, Senegal
Thank you so much William for sharing but we must all keep in mind that cheating just can't be prosperous. We must remain ourselves otherwise our true nature will be discovered sooner or later.

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Anish Abraham Privacy Program Manager| University of Washington Auburn, Wa, United States
Good insights, William and thanks for sharing.
Keep positive thinking while discussing with others will boost a person's image. Also, our colleagues will develop faith if we are willing to give input in a positive and confident manner.

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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Good Post William

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Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Thanks William. In the digital age, personal branding is everything.

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Jennifer Colucci Project Manager| 3M HIS San Marcos, Ca, United States
The old rule still applies - First Impressions really do matter! You posting is a good reminder to stay aware of that.

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Drew Craig Sr. Agile & Product Coach| Vanguard Philadelphia, Pa, United States
Image ... like Jennifer states, first impressions do still matter, though there are so many more avenues to make those first impressions! So best to project professionalism in all aspects of your life. People want to see your true character, not just a false representation.

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Eduin Fernando Valdes Alvarado Project Manager| F y F Fabricamos Futuro Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
Very good article

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Luis Branco CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear William
Interesting your perspective on the topic: "Your professional image and what you show to the world"

Thanks for sharing

Important point to remember:
"Spend energies with what deserves real attention: The constant construction of your professional image"

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Stephen Robin Project Analyst Trainee| Ministry of Works and Transport Arima, Ari, Trinidad and Tobago
Good post. To summarize, meticulously take heed to your credibility and personal brand/reputational image. It can boost or hinder your career aspects.

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