Whether you realise it or not, you are looked upon as a role model both by children and by other adults.

You don’t think so?

Well, the office junior fresh from school looks up to you; the kids next door have a respect for you, even that colleague who just nods as you walk past thinks that you ‘know your stuff’.

It’s irrelevant whether you actually do ‘know your stuff’ or not. These people lookup to you because of who are (or appear to be), and because of your position at work, or your job in society.

Well, okay, so now what? Regardless of how many people look up to you, most of us could improve things to some degree. For instance, what’s the one thing you can do today to improve the impression you give?

Often it’s the little things that make the difference. Smartly ironed clothes. Getting in on time. Not taking long lunches. Producitng great products without supervision. Not taking part in office gossip. Thanking a friend.

You can improve the impression that you give quite dramatically – just by working on a small thing until you’ve got it right – and then moving onto the next one.