Power Symbols Can Improve Your Professional Image and Status

Boosting your status with power symbols can be one way to make you look dedicated and connected to your company. While many status symbols--like a reserved parking space, corner office with view, and first-class travel--are "earned, " there are some symbols you can add to your repertoire (if you lack the aforementioned) that can boost your image as a "comer."

 

If you're nice to the office manager and/or facilities manager, you might be able to talk them into getting you upgraded furniture, executive lamps, paintings or even a window office.

 

And if it's not provided to "your rung in the ladder," you may want to invest in a stylish laptop or the latest iPhone (packed with complex-looking analytical management apps, of course). Needless to say, the latest Blackberry is de rigueur for the rising young exec and it's good to link it up to your corporate communications and computer system—to make you look really connected with the firm. An extra iPad on your desk with company stats displayed never hurts, either.

 

Some junior admin execs have even been known to buy and hook up an extra computer and have it constantly running business apps augmented with charts and graphs. Adding device locks, encryption and satellite tracking security systems to protect your laptop from theft can add to your status.

 

Finally, it doesn't hurt your image to leave the office carrying all your latest "etoys" (gives the impression that you're burning the midnight oil).

 

In my ad agency days, I had a corner window office, but instead of a desk, I had a large table with an elegant table lamp. My walls were covered with very stylish Miro paintings (not originals, of course). It set the tone that immediately put me above the "worker bee" level.

 

For more information on administrative jobs, check out:

http://www.administrativejobsblog.com/

 

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.