Today's article from Keli Lenfield's highly acclaimed hit book "Everyone is a Supermodel. Secrets for any career based on my modelling experiences", identifies and shares the 7 core skills that will help you differentiate yourself both online and in person on a global scale. This article describes the fourth core skill of professional etiquette.

Core Skill #4 – Professional etiquette

This is about basic manners and courtesy in public and in your professional surroundings. They have become a differentiater in the market place and alongside intercultural understanding and knowing how to network effectively, how you build rapport can be the edge you have over your competition.

Among other things, visualization and relaxation techniques are effective prior to and while presenting a good first impression in a networking situation, an interview or within any workplace environment.

This article actually builds upon the previous core skills and applies them to your goals and achievable employment opportunities, for example the importance of a good first impression is applied when attending an interview or having the confidence to ask about an opportunity as a result of a networking situation. How about applying understanding and respect for other cultures as an essential part of social etiquette?

Learn to visualize and relax

This part is one of the toughest … you need to learn how to relax and visualize.

It's kind of strange that we need to learn how to relax. Along with our out-of-balance eating we have also lost our natural ability to relax. Maybe it was the first time we had to compete for something, or your environment is not conducive to relaxation. Maybe you have been doing things for the wrong reasons for too long and when your conscious finally wins out (which it always does) you have days of endless guilt. The good news is you can change, and the combination of relaxing and visualizing not only calms you down and improves your breathing, but gives you clarity, enhances productivity and naturally drives you to create and act.

And if you think I am not being practical, let me tell you that one of the world's most successful companies – and that would be Google, is the driving force behind offering their employees “Mindfulness based training program”. This program has been running since 2007 and has proven to dramatically improve an employee's career and the businesses bottom line. Go ahead and Google it – its the way business should be.

Next is an introduction to some personal development tools that I would like you to consider using. Please keep an open mind as I am going to give you permission to drop any inhibitions, pick up some scissors and glue and indulge your inner child.

The first of these tools are affirmations. This process helps to re-program all of your past so-called beliefs that are no longer serving you. I have used these for years and the change is truly astonishing. The idea is to read through them and choose a couple that resonate with you. That is when you read them, you feel good and it feels right to say it, no matter what you have been told or have come to believe up until now. It's about trusting yourself and following your instincts.

The second requires your scissors and glue. A vision board is an incredibly powerful tool as you are creating a visual artwork of what you want in life.

You can choose to do just one of these processes or a combination. I have witnessed the miraculous results of all of these processes working at once, remembering it is about quality and learning to believe in yourself and your ability.

Now to learn how to relax. You will need 20 uninterrupted minutes and a quiet space. Give yourself the opportunity to try a visualization and relaxation session – I know you deserve it.

These processes can be used to;

• To identify and focus on ideal outcome

• Be clean and exact with thought and goal

• Strengthen belief in self

• Confidence

• Keep on track with goals

• No restrictions

• Escapism – think BIG

• Help to realise dreams

• Combines feelings with visuals

So learn to relax – the benefits are truly transformational.

How to get your foot in the door

Getting your foot in the door takes time, persistence and attitude. Most of all you have to want to and know why you want this opportunity – sound familiar? My best piece of advice from over 20 years in the most competitive industry on the planet? Always be on the look out for an opportunity (a door that is slightly open). This 9 out of 10 opportunities may not be your door but by introducing yourself the appropriate way and for the right reasons, that introduction could be all that is needed to open another door. This is where your first impression is crucial.

So just to remind you of what you have learned so far... you know what you want and why you want it, you understand and dress for your body shape and style and your personal presentation is working for you, now its time for your professional self to shine. Now, you are interacting with certain people and their opportunities which you need and could add value to. The exchange begins....

So what constitutes an effective first impression?

Let me give you the universal run down that will never date;

• Polite

• Presentable

• Professional

• Proficient

• Organised

• On time

• Healthy

• Proactive

• Energetic

• Personable

• Humble

• Patient

• Efficient

• Respectful

• Helpful

• Eager

• Confident

• Clean, pressed clothing with no stains, all buttons and a sewn hem (seriously you would be surprised!)

• Appropriate make up and hair to suit the place of businesses

Not a long list considering what it will get you. There is no second chance to make a great first impression, and trying too hard is worse. Know what you want, why you want it and always add value until your foot is well and truly in the door.

Once you are in the room, your professional “out-look” comes into play.

As the person you are meeting is still judging you on your image and presentation, just be aware of the following points, so that when you open your mouth to start expressing who you are, what you have to offer and why you want the opportunity.. you will be way ahead of your competition and closer to your goal.

• Pay attention to detail

• Know or ask for the correct name and pronunciation of the person being met

• Be prepared with 3 initial questions and possible responses

• Determine and present your best image orally and visually

• Listen well

• Speak clearly and relax (not too relaxed!)

• Do all hair, makeup and nail adjustments in private

Any questions, please get in contact with me as I would love to hear your thoughts!

Understand and apply professional social etiquette

I have an issue with the word etiquette. It just reminds me of the days when girls and boys were all dressed in blazers and their Sunday finest and were to be “seen and not heard”. And I would like to know if the term “Professional social etiquette” gets the point across in a slightly more modern way? The one thing I do regard as never going out of style is good manners. I cannot express enough how simple manners and in particular knowing when to close my mouth and listen has been the only difference between me and 200 other applicants getting a job. Etiquette and its social application can be defined as the following;

• Good manners and courtesy in public

• Being comfortable around people

• Making people comfortable around you

• Entirely dependent on culture

• Inter-cultural respect

And the benefits of this;

• Ability to positively represent organisation, employer or cause

• Remembered before others for a position

• Leaves a lasting positive impression

• Shows knowledge and competence

• Seen as a person who takes pride in themselves

• Educated and thoughtful

• A ‘team player’

Do we live in a global society? Don't worry I am not going to launch into a chat on globalisation or worse, global politics, but you have to agree that having a small amount of understanding, respect and even empathy with different countries is not only part of your job as a citizen of the world, but also a huge advantage when seeking out opportunities and achieving your goals. What an amazing first impression if you knew how to offer a business card to a Chinese client or knew what to offer as a gift to an Indonesian boss. You don't need to learn the language (although I encourage that too!) because in international exchanges, actions do speak louder than words and your professional first impression would be at the top of anyone's list if you know how to act.

Okay, just one more important angle for this skill and that is etiquette within the workplace. There is a difference between a social gathering and a work function. It is a small difference but a difference nonetheless. Even if you catch up with your work mates socially (and I hope you do), just be mindful of where you are, how much you have had to drink and who is attending. You never know and you don't want to wake up with “the fear” the next morning with a complete blank of who you promised what to and who you need to apologize to and yes, I am speaking from experience!

Vital networking skills

Networking is crucial and no you don't have to work the room and meet everyone in one go! That is plain stupid, exhausting and counter productive.

I will tell you a little secret. When you find like minded people that know the benefits of collaboration and act on what they say they will do – you have successfully networked. You don't have to work with everyone. Don't force the issue as it is about quality. Stick to that and the quantity will follow.

The whole point of networking is to meet new people. Future clients, employers, affiliate partners and customers are out there looking for you. Put on your best first impression, be yourself, actively listen and have some fun!

Keli Lenfield is a single mother, author, course developer, social entrepreneur and animal ambassador. She delivers courses to disadvantaged youth and writes for a number of magazines including The CEO Magazine and Haute Living. Her book has gained worldwide reviews and she is the founder of Keli Lenfield.com and Model Alliance.Global. Her tagline "Be the Difference to make a Difference" motivates her to be the walking and talking example for all who admire and inspire her.