Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
ð¥ Executive Presence, Trust Engineerin and Personal Branding for Client-Facing Professionals
Free Resources here: dale-carnegie.co.jp/freebundles
My Point of View
In business, first impressions and successful personal branding are not accidental.
Be intentional about the image, energy and credibility we bring into the room. People are immediately forming a view about our professionalism, judgement and likely value.
ð© Know the Rule to Break the Rule
#3. Q: Should your tie and pocket square match exactly?
Don't perfectly match the tie colour with the pocket square colour e.g. red tie and the same red pocket square. Some stores sell them as a unit, but don't follow this guide. We can pair the tie and pocket square such that the colours are complementary, but not an exact match. Some people say it doesn't matter to try and match the tie with the pocket square, but I think they should have some common elements rather than none.
ð The 4 Vs of Executive Presence:
Visual - Do I look prepared, credible and appropriate for the situation?
Vocal - Does my voice tone sound calm and confident?
Verbal - Are my comments clear, concise and beneficial?
Value - Am I making a useful difference to the people and business around me?
ð¯ Todayâs Executive Presence Intention
Todayâs meetings:
Tokyo Rotary Club meeting where the great and powerful gather every Wednesday at the Imperial Hotel in Hibiya.
First meeting with the Japan President of a major international jewellery brand in Omotesando for whom we are going to deliver Mindset Shift training.
The impression I wanted to create:
For the jewellery brand meeting, I wanted to show what a cool fashionista I am (!), hence the pink rather than blue shirt and also the red and white polka dot pocketsquare picking up the red lines in the Shantung silk tie and the pink in the shirt, and I chose my Versace watch rather than my more conservative Cartier.
The Impression Construction Elements
Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna Treviro 1910 "Cool Effect" summer suit with a subtle window pane pattern, notch lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents. I bought this suit in the Via Monte Napoleone Zegna store in Milano in the era of tighter trousers and higher breaks. I didn't know what I was doing then, and I would never buy it now.
Shirt: Abelard Melbourne 1922 pink shirt with English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007.
Tie: Shanting silk tie handmade on Italy for Rampley & Co London 2014 in a Four-In-Hand knot.
Cufflinks: 25th wedding anniversary silver cufflinks present from my wife with my "S" initial design from Miyamoto Shoko Tokyo 1880.
Pocket Square: Fairfax collective Tokyo 1976 red and white polka dot pocketsquare in a puff. Stabiliser from Kuska Fabrics Kyoto 1936.
Watch: Vintage, gold 40mm Versace Milano 1978 with a Medusa design, custom cobalt nubuck alligator strap by Jean Rousseau Paris 1954.
Fragrance: Quercus Eau de Cologne Penhaligonâs London 1870
ð High Shine Shoes: Pollini San Mauro Pascoli 1953 Wingtip Derbys.
âš Todayâs Featured Detail
The Abelard Pink Shirt: the contrast works well against the blue in the sut and becomes the canvas to apply the tie and pocketsquare colours.
One Rule to Remember
Personal flair should support your professional image, not distract from it.
ð Executive Presence Coaching in Tokyo
I coach leaders in Executive Presence, Leadership, Communication, Presentations and Sales.
For coaching or training in Tokyo, contact me at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com.
We have a bonus for you packed with free resourcesâone thatâll make you go, âYep, this is exactly what I wanted.â Head to the link now. Dale-Carnegie.co.jp/en/about/freebundles
ð dale-carnegie.co.jp ð Free white papers: bit.ly/4nbN0pj ð Free e-books: bit.ly/42MbKMK
âïž Dr. Greg Story â President, Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training. Author of Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery and Japan Leadership Mastery.
ð¥ Executive Presence, Trust Engineerin and Personal Branding for Client-Facing Professionals
Free Resources here: dale-carnegie.co.jp/freebundles
My Point of View
In business, first impressions and successful personal branding are not accidental.
Be intentional about the image, energy and credibility we bring into the room. People are immediately forming a view about our professionalism, judgement and likely value.
ð© Know the Rule to Break the Rule
#3. Q: Should your tie and pocket square match exactly?
Don't perfectly match the tie colour with the pocket square colour e.g. red tie and the same red pocket square. Some stores sell them as a unit, but don't follow this guide. We can pair the tie and pocket square such that the colours are complementary, but not an exact match. Some people say it doesn't matter to try and match the tie with the pocket square, but I think they should have some common elements rather than none.
ð The 4 Vs of Executive Presence:
Visual - Do I look prepared, credible and appropriate for the situation?
Vocal - Does my voice tone sound calm and confident?
Verbal - Are my comments clear, concise and beneficial?
Value - Am I making a useful difference to the people and business around me?
ð¯ Todayâs Executive Presence Intention
Todayâs meetings:
Tokyo Rotary Club meeting where the great and powerful gather every Wednesday at the Imperial Hotel in Hibiya.
First meeting with the Japan President of a major international jewellery brand in Omotesando for whom we are going to deliver Mindset Shift training.
The impression I wanted to create:
For the jewellery brand meeting, I wanted to show what a cool fashionista I am (!), hence the pink rather than blue shirt and also the red and white polka dot pocketsquare picking up the red lines in the Shantung silk tie and the pink in the shirt, and I chose my Versace watch rather than my more conservative Cartier.
The Impression Construction Elements
Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna Treviro 1910 "Cool Effect" summer suit with a subtle window pane pattern, notch lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents. I bought this suit in the Via Monte Napoleone Zegna store in Milano in the era of tighter trousers and higher breaks. I didn't know what I was doing then, and I would never buy it now.
Shirt: Abelard Melbourne 1922 pink shirt with English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007.
Tie: Shanting silk tie handmade on Italy for Rampley & Co London 2014 in a Four-In-Hand knot.
Cufflinks: 25th wedding anniversary silver cufflinks present from my wife with my "S" initial design from Miyamoto Shoko Tokyo 1880.
Pocket Square: Fairfax collective Tokyo 1976 red and white polka dot pocketsquare in a puff. Stabiliser from Kuska Fabrics Kyoto 1936.
Watch: Vintage, gold 40mm Versace Milano 1978 with a Medusa design, custom cobalt nubuck alligator strap by Jean Rousseau Paris 1954.
Fragrance: Quercus Eau de Cologne Penhaligonâs London 1870
ð High Shine Shoes: Pollini San Mauro Pascoli 1953 Wingtip Derbys.
âš Todayâs Featured Detail
The Abelard Pink Shirt: the contrast works well against the blue in the sut and becomes the canvas to apply the tie and pocketsquare colours.
One Rule to Remember
Personal flair should support your professional image, not distract from it.
ð Executive Presence Coaching in Tokyo
I coach leaders in Executive Presence, Leadership, Communication, Presentations and Sales.
For coaching or training in Tokyo, contact me at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com.
We have a bonus for you packed with free resourcesâone thatâll make you go, âYep, this is exactly what I wanted.â Head to the link now. Dale-Carnegie.co.jp/en/about/freebundles
ð dale-carnegie.co.jp ð Free white papers: bit.ly/4nbN0pj ð Free e-books: bit.ly/42MbKMK
âïž Dr. Greg Story â President, Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training. Author of Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery and Japan Leadership Mastery.
