I’m wondering if I have done a good job already by arousing your reading appetite as to what I mean by demeanour. When you think of a carpenter, what imagination do you have of him? I would imagine a man in tattered jeans with a pencil stuck in his hair, some saws and hammers flying around in a loud noise. What about a lawyer? I would imagine suits, robes or gowns, a slow and interestingly annoying way of presenting their ideas and a very low sense of humour as what characterises most of them. What about a priest or pastor? If you are blessed with a good imagination, this should be one of the easiest to picture in your mind.
Now, what do I mean by the demeanour of a good business man? I use that term to encompass all the attributes, both physical and attitudinal, that make up a person’s being as a business man or woman.
Let’s start with appearance. I’m presuming there is no particular written document that generally specifies how a business man should look. But organisational ethics would easily define your outlook. A banker or investor would mostly be caught sharply dressed in his suit and tie with an extremely well-polished shoe that shines so much, if you don’t see your image in it, he/she has failed to look professional. A private entrepreneur would choose how he or she would dress, depending on the kind of product or service he/she renders. Pay attention to your appearance. Others are more likely to respect and listen to you if you maintain a professional appearance. As a business person, wear clothes appropriate to your profession. Ideals may include business slacks, tucked-in collar shirt, business suit or dress/skirt. So for example, in Kumasi (Ghana), you shouldn’t expect to see men in suits in the central part of the metropolis selling second hand clothing. I must therefore conclude this bit on clothing by stating that, a business man must look very credible in order to persuade a client or business partner to accept your proposals. If you are in a bid to sell out a business idea or plan, you should look credible enough for your partners to take you seriously or better still, “buy” you at a reasonable price.
A good business man should be persuasive and persistent in selling your ideas, goods or services. Being a businessman or salesman often requires employing persuasion tactics. This skill can influence others to think as you do; and if marketing a product or service, good persuasion techniques can encourage someone to use your service or purchase a product from your company. However, the art of persuasion doesn’t come naturally for everyone.
Take time to be well-groomed. Ensure that you have a clean and attractive haircut, that you are clean shaven and that your clothes are neat, clean and pressed. Also, make sure that your nails have been trimmed.
Wherever you go and whoever you meet, always be on time. No one likes to be kept waiting. So, if you find that you’re going to be late, call and let the person or persons know that you will be late but that you will be there as soon as possible. Or, reschedule for another time (but this should be the last resort).
With any kind of business, do the necessary background work and research so that you will be prepared when the actual event arrives. Speak with confidence. Do not be over bearing, but always sound confident in your speech. If you do not know answers do not attempt to pretend. Just state confidently, “I do not know, but I will find out for you.”
And, one of the most important ways to look and act like a businessman is to acquire as much knowledge as possible about the field you’re in. Keep learning and developing everyday so that your skills remain competent and high. For even though you may look and act like a businessman, the real proof of being one, will be seen in how you conduct and process your daily affairs. If selling a product or service to another person or business, highlight the reasons why your product or service is the best. Accomplish this by comparing the product or service to similar items offered by other companies or ask previous customers for testimonials. Anticipate any concerns or questions the individual might raise and then prepare responses to these concerns.
Finally, as a good business man, don’t be extravagant in your spending. Yes! You must look classy but this should be done in moderation. I recommend for your study, businessmen like Warren Buffet and Carlos Slim Helu. Warren Buffet is widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century. He is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and has been very consistent in being ranked as the world’s wealthiest people. In 1950, at the age of 20, Buffett had made and saved $9,800 (nearly $94,000 inflation adjusted for the 2012 USD). He lives in the same house in the central Dundee neighbourhood of Omaha that he bought in 1958 for $31,500, today valued at around $700,000. Carlos Slim and his siblings were taught basic business practices by their father, and at the age of 12, Slim bought shares in a Mexican bank. At the age of 17, he earned 200 pesos a week working for his father’s company.
References: Google, Wikipedia.com.
About the Author: James Azam is a blogger and sole admin of Business Forum on word press. He is an undergraduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Ghana) and holds a degree in Actuarial science.
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