Look, Speak, & Behave for Women: Expert Advice on Image, Etiquette, and Effective Communication for the Professional

by Jamie L. Yasko-Mangum

For years, highly paid executives at major corporations have had the benefit of professional image consultants to give them feedback about their presentation in the workplace. That expert advice has helped them to dress properly for any business occasion, improve their public speaking and presentation skills, understand the dos and don’ts of the workplace, and enhance their standing in the business community. Now that same type of guidance is available to anyone—recent graduates looking to enter the workplace as well as managers and executives looking to polish themselves and their skills. Jamie L. Yasko-Mangum’s clients include Estée Lauder, the American Management Association, Pfizer, Darden Restaurants, high schools, colleges, and universities. They hire her to give seminars to employees and students on how to project a positive and smart self-image, create a polished appearance, understand what is and is not proper behavior, and see how to communicate intelligently. Men and women will find ideas for improving their credibility, authority, reputation, and confidence in a workplace environment, regardless of their profession or position.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Lucy Laramie]

This book isn't quite as catchy as the cover. Bottom line: your self-esteem effects your image. The author isn't exactly a psychologist and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing some of the outfits in the photos....the 1990's called and they want their "professional" image back!

[Stephanie Sirois]

This book was a bit of trainwreck.

It's very out of date, and is more first wave feminist than say, intersectional. For example, you're catty if you only talk to two people you work with as opposed to all, and you're uh, "scandalous" if your tops are lower cut than your collarbone.

The entirety of the polished appearance section was all around how slim is better and you should essentially make up a dress code for yourself.

The section regarding generations was pointless, and really telling of the author.

The only thing I took away from this book that feels important is how to work on positive self esteem by treating yourself well and taking time for that.

[Piret]

Some of text and photos for them contradicted each other. For one, the author stated how open toed heels are not okay but they were worn on the photo about that certain attire. Same goes for jeans, how they are a BIG NO NO, but they were worn on the model who modeled that certain attire. Seems like there was not much time and effort put into this book, and all the actual helpful advice could have been summarized in about 20 pages.
Oh, and the clothes and the shoes the author chose to portray the professional attire were probably in style 50 years ago.

[D5745]

I found some good advice in this book. Some of it I even wrote down so I can read it again later. Basically though, everything depends on your self esteem. How much you respect and value yourself, it all comes down to that.