There is much confusion about what an image consultant does, and what services they provide for clients. Image consulting is a very wide field, and can include services for businesses, public organizations, and charity groups, such as conducting corporate seminars or workshops for high-profile employees. Services for government employees could include instruction on etiquette in foreign countries, or how to present a more positive impression to constituents or parliament. Services provided to individuals might involve instruction on how to dress to inspire confidence, or perhaps what to wear to work to present a more professional appearance -- or even advice on what to wear for a first date.
Personalized image consulting at Porthos is centred on helping individuals connect who they are on the inside to what they look like on the outside. How many people have you known who were stunningly brilliant or extremely knowledgeable, but were passed over or not taken seriously because ‘something’ about them just did not inspire confidence in their abilities. That ‘something’ is the subconscious first impression that is made within seconds of meeting someone new. Image consultants are trained to help clients manage that first impression, and enable their client to maximize the potential that it creates. This is critically important not only in the social jungle, but in professional environments. A recent study done by researchers at Harvard University found that the more positive an impact an employee’s image made, the higher their respective raises and pay grades were, compared to the average.*
As with any other organization, there are professional standards, certifications, and ethical codes laid out for image consultants. Most reputable image consultants opt for membership with a professional association which has a well-defined code of ethics, and educational support systems in place to better enable consultants to improve their knowledge and skills as time marches onward. Since the inception of Porthos Image Consulting, Paul has been a member in good standing with the Association of Image Consultants International, Toronto Chapter.
http://www.aici.org *Markus M. Mobious and Tanya S. Rosenblat. “Why Beauty Matters.” Harvard University Press, 2005. <
http://mobius.fas.harvard.edu/Beauty/main.pdf >
