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| brothersoft.com |
My first day in the professional sales world, I had a colleague mention to me that red might not be the best color to wear. He explained that the colors worn have a different meaning and can cause people to be intimidated. So, while thinking about this, I came across an article explaining what colors can mean to the subconscious mind.
Color is one of the most important tools you can use in business, including business clothing. Others are six times more likely to be influenced by the color you wear than by anything else about your appearance. Color psychology affects our lives in so many ways, yet we often don’t realize the impact our color choices have. Color has such a subconscious impact it is important to have an understanding of what is implied by your customer or client.
Before thinking about colors, think about what message you are trying to send. This might be establishing trust and credibility, friendly and approachable, confidence, dependability, or even professional with authority. Whichever persona you are trying to portray, each one has a color in mind.
· Establish trust and credibility, then blue is best. It is the safest color of all, universally liked by most men and women - however it has a certain predictability about it and suggests 'conservative'.
· Appear friendly & approachable - choose lighter colors such as mid tone blues and greens, blue-greens and teal, tan and peachy-orange.
· Be assertive - red, but it can also be threatening to others.
· Get noticed - red, if giving a talk to a large group - but it can be tiring if you are already overtired.
· Appear confident - blue-green is a good business color for women to wear, it suggests high self esteem and confidence, yet is still friendly and approachable.
· Show dependability - green - be aware that it is also a color that is not always liked by others, even though it is the color of emotional balance.
· Appear neutral - grey or beige will do it. This can let your personality shine through, although you may also come across as a fence-sitter, keeping your true feelings to yourself - you may say what the client wants to hear, rather than the truth.
· Professional with authority - dark blue or dark grey, which are the most business-like colors and good for credibility when promoting your business, yet these could be too overpowering and somber for many of your clients in a consultation.
· Shock and inspire your audience - magenta will do this for you.
There is no such thing as a good or bad color; it is just that some colors are more appropriate than others in some situations. All colors have both a positive and negative side to them. Be aware of this. Color is a very powerful tool.
