Business Image Hokey Pokey

...Put your right foot in and shake it all about. Do the business hokey pokey... and that's what it's all about.

Kathryn Lowell of Image Matters in Bentonville and I have been corresponding briefly about image mistakes in the workplace. She's doing an article on the 10 most dreaded faux pas one can make in earning an image in the business world. Kathryn's focus is on the person. As a marketing strategist, I focus on the message. Without a doubt they go hand in hand.

Case in point. Just as this e-conversation with Kathryn is winding down, I receive a letter – a real, honest to goodness letter in the mail – from a prestigious (or so they claim) business strategy school in the UK. They want me to interview for an executive programme.

Image matters. It took me three times reading the letter to discern the point. Not just because the Brits don't know the value of a well placed "z" or are polite to a fault. In 227 words, which could have been much less, I was being contacted by someone in writing who had been asked to ask me in writing if I would like to call someone to schedule an interview with someone else about talking to yet someone else about their programme which hinted at being about strategy in business.

Breathe.

And there were typos.

I could have gotten excited about the opportunity. I might have called to schedule the interview. Not. In a matter of 5 minutes, this company shot its marketing strategy in the foot. And you can't hokey pokey with a busted foot.

In business, every marketing message you send out – by whatever post – needs to be well crafted, carefully constructed and free of faux pas. Communication is an essential part of business. If you aren't circumspect, you could be poking hokey in your business image.

Copyright 2009 Janie Clark