Click on the links
to read excerpts of articles where Charmaine has been interviewed and quoted.
Read more articles in the In
the News Section.
- ExecuNet, "Sound
Strategy, Proven Tactics Lead To Negotiation Win"
- Career Intelligence,
"Save Big
by Thinking Update Instead of Overhaul"
-
Atlanta Journal Constitution,
"Campaign Couture"
-
Hispanic Trends,
"The Price
is Right--Or is it?"
- The State, "In
politics, Clothes really do make the man"
- iParenting.com, "Career
Clothes"
- ExecuNet, "Build
a Foundation For Success with Strong First 90 Days"
- AmericanWay,
"Time on Your Side"
- SHRM,
"Once
You've Got the Job: Four Steps to a Smooth Relationship"
- HR.com,
"Eight
Soft Steps for Avoiding Hard Project Failures"
- The Advisor,
SHRM,
"The
Threatened Employee"
- Albany Times Union,
"Dressed
for Success"
- Women's Food Service Forum,
"2002
Emerging Leader"
- Black Enterprise Magazine,
"The
CEO Style"
- Management Consulting
"McClarie
Group feature profile"
- American Demographics,
"Her
Own Boss."
- Black Enterprise Magazine,
"How to dress when moving up the ladder."
- Black Enterprise
Magazine, "Crafting a Power Image."
- People
Magazine, "Case Clothed."
- San Francisco
Examiner, "Mr. Bill perfecting geek chic."
- McClarie
Group Feature, "Presentation Pointers To Get Your Ideas
Across"
...read
recent articles in the News Section
"Sound Strategy, Proven Tactics
Lead To Negotiation Win" (ExecuNet) Charmaine
explains how to use her Executive Success Principles to negotiate a raise:
Claim Your Rights
“Essentially, negotiating
a raise boils down to how effectively you can communicate your right to the raise
— both verbally and nonverbally,” says Charmaine McClarie President, McClarie
Group. Her advice:
• Speak in Headlines. Many executives make
the mistake of starting out their negotiation with background information — how
long they’ve been working there, their responsibilities, etc.
Executives
should begin their negotiation with a headline — something that will get their
boss’s attention, motivate him or her to pay attention to the rest of what they’re
about to say, and is concise and gets to the motivation in a hurry. Instead of
“Well, Bob, I’ve been working here now for...” executives need to pack some punch
right from the beginning: “Bob: last year my streamlining efforts saved this company
close to $500,000 in in-creased productivity. Today I’d like to review my key
accomplishments and discuss raise opportunities with you.”
• Deliver
Three “Must-Make” Points. Executives seeking a raise must be able to effectively
address the three Must-Make Points. The first point is: “Why should I listen?”
The second point is “What’s in it for me?” and the third is “What do you want
me to do about it?”
She puts these three points in the form of questions,
because these are the questions the person at the other side of the negotiation
table is asking — whether or not her or she is conscious of them — and unless
executives answer these questions successfully their case for a raise will not
be fully effective.
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"Save Big by Thinking
Update Instead of Overhaul" (Career-Intelligence.com) Charmaine's
suggests observing the images of successful people in your field as you build
your wardrobe: Before you start
plunking down your hard-earned cash, consider the image you're trying to convey.
"Most people make the mistake of haphazardly assembling their image. Think
about the image you want to project. Begin by observing how the most successful
people in your field dress, "suggests McClarie. <
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"Campaign Couture" (Atlanta
Journal Constitution) Charmaine explains
the role image has traditionally played in presidential elections.
Personal appearance was among the reasons why Richard
Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election, said Charmaine
McClarie, whose boutique firm helps executives with image management.
Nixon wore no makeup and displayed a prominent 5 o'clock shadow during a TV debate.
Viewers and voters narrowly elected the more polished Kennedy.
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"The Price is Right--Or
is it?" (Hispanic Trends) Charmaine talks
about the price-setting strategy that has helped her to run a successful business
for over 18 years.
“I realized that helping a client solve a multimillion
dollar problem was of much greater value to that client than the prices I was
charging,” says McClarie. She then took a step back to analyze the value she was
delivering to clients, factoring in the additional time spent handling tasks like
preliminary research and follow up.
Every year, to cover the ever-increasing cost
of doing business, McClarie boosts her hourly rate by 5 percent for all clients.
“I justify the increase as an incremental cost of running a successful business,”
says McClarie, who credits her early pricing insights with keeping her firm’s
bottom line healthy for the last 18 years. “My strategy has worked out really
well.”
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"In Politics, Clothes Really
Do Make the Man" (The State) Charmaine
comments on the Bush-Kerry presidential election and highlights why image was
so important to the presidential race.
“In
a close election, knowing that 93 percent of a person's effectiveness as a communicator
is judged on style, not content, we can expect appearance to play a large role,”
McClarie said.
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"Career Clothes" (iParenting.com) The
Capsule concept, developed by McClarie Group, was featured in this iParenting
article about dressing for success without breaking your budget.
“Building
a career clothing capsule is an easy, efficient way to have a small wardrobe that
expands to a great number of different looks,” says Charmaine McClarie, a style
and image management expert and head of McClarie Group in Los Angeles, Calif.
“A capsule wardrobe anchors itself around flattering fabrics and styles and two
main colors. It then uses an accent color and accessories and interchangeable
dress items to turn a small group of clothes into a variety of outfits.”
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"Build A Foundation For Success
With Strong First 90 Days" (ExecuNet) Charmaine
explains how to be successful in the first 90 days of a new job for ExecuNet,
the premier networking and membership organization for the $100,000+ executive:
Forget About The Honeymoon
But
even those executives who may appreciate the value of a strong start often underestimate
its importance, said Charmaine McClarie, president of the Los Angeles-based McClarie
Group that specializes in executive coaching and development. "They don't
have a [90 day] game plan, in part because they are under the impression they
have a honeymoon. But they don't," she said. ... Learn
The Unwritten Rules
Executives should also spend the early part of
those first 90 days working to identify the other "unwritten rules of your
new firm's culture…the items that are not in the orientation book," McClarie
says. For example, when presenting a new idea, you may be in the kind of culture
that doesn't like a new guy to come off as too brash or go over people's heads,
she said.
"If you want to be a new maverick, you'll be up a creek
without a paddle if you don't understand and demonstrate to others the value that
your approach will bring not only to your own division, but to theirs as well,"
McClarie says. Too often, new executives come in with a clear idea about what
they want to do with their team, but they don't reconcile that vision with the
entire organization's goals.
Instead, she advocates a technique she
calls "creating witnesses." Essentially, it boils down to identifying
others in the firm who can benefit from your approach and making certain they
understand it. They in turn will help talk up you and your ideas, McClarie says.
But, like so much about succeeding in a new job, that's much easier to accomplish
in your first 90 days as opposed to trying it six months or a year into the job.
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"Time on
Your Side" (AmericanWay) Robert McGarvey
helps American Airlines passengers master their time-management skills using tips
from Charmaine:
If
you want to get ahead, you’re forever with a smile and a helping hand, right?
Forget it. Figure out which requests don’t matter, and say no. “Successful people
are masters of knowing what they do not have to do,” says Charmaine McClarie,
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"Once You've Got the Job: Four Steps to a Smooth Relationship" (The
Society for Human Resources Management) Journalist
Lin Grengsing-Pophal highlights Charmaine's strategies for building and maintaining
strong relationships with new clients:
Charmaine McClarie, head of the McClarie Group in Los Angeles, works with
companies to help develop and retain future leaders. When staff feel threatened,
she says, “it’s essential to act quickly so that the discomfort of the one employee
doesn't spread and create a negative environment.” McClarie says she defuses
tense situations by “first of all, letting them know that I’m partnering with
them. I might say something like, ‘I won’t be here long so I want to partner with
you to make sure that what we develop together will be sustainable.’” She’s not
averse to using a bit of flattery either – as long as it’s sincere. “Flattery,”
she says, “goes a long way.” McClarie offers another very important bit
of advice: don’t take it personally.
“I do everything I can to not take it
personally,” she says. “After all, it’s not personal. It’s about the business.
Focus on the business imperative.” ...
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"Eight Soft Steps for Avoiding Hard Project Failures" (HR.com, JoeSantana.com)
IT Specialist Joe Santana uses two of Charmaine's
Executive Success Principles in this article about being a successful project
manager: Charmaine McClarie, head
of McClarie Group (www.mcclariegroup.com) an organization that leads executive
development programs, advises project managers to use this meeting and other opportunities
to communicate project vision to the team. “Focus on strategy not task,” she advises.
“Make sure people grasp the big picture, so that they can respond according to
the big picture,” she adds. Furthermore, McClarie tells us to make sure we communicate
what she calls the three “must-make points:” Why should they listen, what’s in
it for them and what specifically do you need them to do. This type of communication,
as McClarie points out, secures personal accountability for results and not just
task execution. Create and maintain strategic witnesses for your project.
“An outcome without a witness is not an outcome—it's just a completed task,” states
McClarie. Her advice is simple: make sure that your project has and sustains the
attention of strategic leaders in the organization who “see” (witness) the progress
and the impact of your project’s progress on the companies objectives. These strategic
witnesses according to McClarie should be high-level executives in the organization
that receive direct benefits from the results produced by the project. This is
one important way of enlisting powerful help to protect your project from having
its resources and/or budget raided. ...
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"The Threatened Employee" (The Advisor, The Society for Human
Resources Management) Charmaine explains how to help
employees who feel threatened by the presence of a consultant understand the role
of the consultant and diffuse their negative energy:
Charmaine McClarie, head of the McClarie Group, works with companies to help
develop and retain future leaders. “Dealing with threatened staff is something
that I am conscious of daily as a communication expert and coach,” says McClarie.
“One of the things I do with a new client is ask who the resistors might be. I
ask that up front.” ... “As a communication expert,” says McClarie,
“I can identify threatened staff members by their body language and by what they
say. The key in dealing with these employees, she says, is to act quickly so that
the discomfort of one employee doesn’t spread and create a negative environment."
...
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"Dressed
for Success" (Albany Times Union) Charmaine
shares tips for building an cost-effective, high power wardrobe for early career
professionals. Banana Republic,
J. Crew, Boscov's and H&M are just a few of the retailers with a wide selection
of suits at a range of prices. Many of these chain stores often have excellent
knockoffs of high-end designers' outfits, says McClarie. She recommends
researching what you like by scouring fashion magazines and tearing out photos
to take along while shopping. "In order to budget, people really need to
have a good idea going in as to what they really want," she says....
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"2002
Emerging Leader" (Women's Food Service Forum) The
WFF 2002 Emerging Leader, Catherine Phillips, VP of Tyson Food Service Group,
credits McClarie for her highly valued mentoring.
Q: Has the WFF played a role
in your professional development?
A: Absolutely. One of the most valuable courses I ever attended was the Leadership
Development program at the Center for Creative Leadership, a program I found through
a WFF Conference seminar. I had my first 360 assessment there, and it was a turning
point in my career. This year I have been so fortunate to have an extraordinary
mentor, Charmaine McClarie (an executive coach), whom I was paired with through
WFF's Executive Mentoring program. Additionally, the networking provided through
WFF has benefited me both professionally and personally. ...
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"The
CEO Style" (Black Enterprise Magazine) Charmaine
gives tips on how to build your image and get results with your wardrobe:
“Your image can either be an asset or a liability,” says Charmaine McClarie, president
of McClarie Group, an executive development and communications firm in Los Angeles.
“Therefore,” she adds, “You should devote as much time and energy creating and
building the right image as you do growing your company’s bottom line.”
So how do you create your own CEO style? Whether you’re a new or seasoned entrepreneur,
our guide to professional dressing can help you command the attention you need
to help take your business to the next level.
Tip #1:DETERMINE YOUR BODY
TYPE
“Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and make an honest assessment
of your body type,” advises McClarie. “Choose clothes that will work with your
shape, not against it.” For
example, if you have a healthy mid-section, single-breasted jackets and suits
may be more flattering than the dou-ble-breasted variety. Stay away from bold
stripe patterns. Instead, select fabrics that have subtle checks or weaves in
neutral and dark shades – olives, browns, blacks and navies—to provide a more
slimming effect. Women with
side hips would benefit more from swing dresses that flare at the bottom than
the traditional A-line skirts. To elongate your figure, your top, bottom and hosiery
should all be the same color; your jacket, however, can be a contrasting or similar
color. ...
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"McClarie Group feature profile" (Management Consulting) Management
Consulting, the career publication for minority management consulting professionals,
profiles McClarie Group and features Charmaine's management consulting strategies.
"When you have particular obstacles, " she says, "then you either
sink under the weight of them or you just start swimming for dear life—and you
keep on swimming until you're very good at it. You can't 'escape' a difficult
background, but you can make it a part of your success, and I hope I've done that."
Few would argue that she has not. Julia Stewart, President of Applebee's, says
McClarie "helps people stop auditioning for roles they already have."
Anne Byerlein, Vice President of People Resources for Tricon, likens McClarie's
approach to "tough love—you don't always immediately like where she's taking
you but when you get there you're more than gratified by the results. And you
learn to trust her—she never sets a goal you can't achieve and she's always there
along the way, encouraging you and urging you on." ...
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"Her Own Boss" (American
Demographics) Charmaine shares her top strategies
for dressing for success and promotion:
Some
women business owners consciously limit the size of their firms, says Weeks of
the NFWBO. "Especially in a service business, a lot of firms don't want to
get big because they can lose touch with their customers," she says. When
Charmaine McClarie started her communications consulting firm, she was a one-woman
operation. Since then, she's acquired an assistant and two contract employees.
McClarie is now planning further growth, but that's been a difficult decision.
"My clients tell me, `Charmaine, I only want to work with you," she
says. "But I have to trust that the training provided for the people who
work for me will bring another dimension to the business." ...
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"How to dress when moving
up the ladder" (Black Enterprise) Charmaine
shares her top strategies for dressing for success and promotion:
"In 30 seconds, people make judgments about
you based on how you look," says Charmaine McClarie. "Observe how your
colleagues dress, not only in your company but in your industry. Ask yourself,
What does a leader look like? Then study those leaders at networking events and
in business and industry publications." ...
Fit is also essential.
Few people can buy something off-the-rack that fits perfectly. If you do purchase
a suit from a retail store, make sure you have it altered accordingly. "It
makes a subtle yet powerful difference. Nothing looks worse than a man or woman
moving up the ladder in a cheap, ill-fitting suit," insists McClarie. ...
Just how many clothes should an executive have?
According to McClarie, your wardrobe should be 60% accessories: ties, pocket squares,
scarves, jewelry and shoes; and 40% major pieces: suits, blazers and dresses.
An array of accessories offer different looks. ...
A leader is a risk-taker.
If you're going to be high-profile, you've got to have a signature style--something
that allows you to subtly stand out while still fitting in. "Don't play it
safe," advises McClarie. "It says nothing about you except that you're
safe." Yet African Americans, known for being vibrant and fashion-conscious,
should keep that signature statement low-key and avoid anything too flamboyant.
...
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"Crafting a Power
Image" (Black Enterprise) Charmaine shares
tips on looking your best:
* Keep your shoes shined and maintained. "It's
the worst faux pas to be well dressed with worn-down heels or scuffed shoes,"
says McClarie. If you travel often, note that many hotels offer free overnight
shoe shine services. *
Men, have your shirts custom-made. If you're moving from a mid-level to a senior-level
position, make the transition to cufflinks. "Nine out of 10 of the executives
I know wear them," says McClarie. Stay away from faux French cuff shirts
with buttons. ...
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"Case Clothed" (People
Magazine) Charmaine was interviewed on the
impact of dress in the O.J. Simpson court case:
Not since L.A. Law have so many sharp dressers filled a televised courtroom.
But this time it's real life. When the O.J. Simpson case goes to trial, should
his defenders really be wearing ties loud enough to drown out their arguments?
"Image won't win or lose a case," says Charmaine McClarie, president
of Image Design, an Oakland consulting firm. "But it can place a question
mark in a jury's mind about credibility." Chief defense lawyer Robert Shapiro's
in-your-face ties, Gerald Uelmen's bold-but-serious neckwear and Johnnie Cochran
Jr.'s flamboyant cravats may have been chosen to "contrast with O.J. and
make him look like the all-American guy," says designer Alexander Julian.
We asked McClarie, Julian, attorney Gloria Allred and lawyer and forensic psychologist
Harry Munsinger to examine the ties for the defense and pass judgment. ...
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"Mr. Bill perfecting geek chic"
(San Francisco Examiner) Charmaine explains
how the sometimes disheveled look of Bill Gates works to his advantage:
"He looks like a schoolboy who might
be in the laboratory cooking up new products," said Charmaine McClarie, an
image consultant and president of McClarie Group. "He uses it to his advantage.
It keeps him youthful looking, like he (was) in college. He's boyish. He looks
approachable." ...
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"Presentation
Pointers To Get Your Ideas Across" (McClarie Group Feature Article) Six
pointers to make sure your voice is heard.
You've been working on a team project for weeks - and you've all been stumped
for days. Thinking it over on your way to work you come up with the perfect solution.
Everyone gathers for the staff meeting, you present your idea and they blow you
off! Fifteen minutes later, Sam offers the same solution and everyone thinks his
idea is brilliant. You leave the meeting fuming. How did this happen? The truth
is, it's probably your fault. Here are some pointers to ensure that you are seen
and heard in the future. ...
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