When you dissect our work a couple things stand out. It matters what we say, how we behave how we interact.  But of equal importance are our handouts, materials, proposals, slides, brochures; the written material that surrounds our profession.

I bet many of you are judged on the same or a similar basis. Whether you like it or not, people judge you by the quality of the documents you hand out, and the paperwork and other written or visual information you use or refer people to.

Ok so here is the challenge. Write down a few words that describe how you would like to come across to someone face to face.

Your words will be unique to you but they may include things like:-

• Friendly
• Creative
• Fun
• Warm
• Intelligent
• Modern

Now dig out any piece of paper, brochure, web site, or form that you use regularly. Now get someone else (someone who can be trusted to be objective) to have a look at it. Ask them to write down a few adjectives that come to mind to describe the person who created it or the company connected to it. You may well be shocked to read words like:-

• Dull
• Turgid
• Uninspiring
• Boring
• Insipid
• Old

The best companies and individuals think about the personality behind the paperwork. How colourful, vibrant, or interesting are you? Do you present pages and pages of Microsoft word documents that are as dull to read as they are to look at?

Playing in the office this week

Without doubt the most interesting is a CD being played this week is called ‘Riceboy Sleeps’ by Jonsi and Alex. Now we do get that these are not mainstream artists. The CD is something you can play and it kind of fills the space without getting in the way.  In a week that has meant we have spent hour after hour creating proposals the Riceboy Sleeps album has become something of a soundtrack. Don’t expect to be humming any of the tunes though.