Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
ð¥ Executive Presence, Trust Engineering 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. Let's be intentional about the image, energy and credibility we bring into the room. In the first five seconds people are immediately forming a view about our professionalism, judgement and likely value.
ð© Know the Rule to Break the Rule
#22. Q: Whatâs the rule for shoe colour in menâs style?
Select your shoes so that they are darker than the colour of your suit. For example, donât go for a light tan shoe with a navy suit. For navy or black go for black shoes. Dark brown shoes or deep burgundy shoes would work with grey suits. Never wear trainers of any colour with a business suit â ever!
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:
Internal meetings with both my Sales Director and my Marketing Manager
Lunch at the Tokyo American Club, Azabudai where I separately ran into Tim Langley #40 and Hideki Matsubara #28 who were guests on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews.
British Chamber event for departing Ambassador Julia Longbottom at the T-Site in Daikanyama.
The impression I wanted to create: I always make a big effort to out English the English gentlemen when I attend their Chamber events, by being the best dressed man there and because they are all dressing down I was easily successful.
The Impression Construction Elements
Suit: Custom navy beadstripe suit in Carlo Barbera Valdilana 1949 fabric Super 140 Dolce Vita woven in Biella Italy, notch lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents.
Shirt: Thomas Pink London 1984 light blue shirt with English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007.
Tie: Ralph Lauren New York 1967 Purple Label black and white polka dot tie in a Windsor knot.
Cufflinks: Simon Carter London 1985 mother of pearl cufflinks in a dot pattern to pick up the dot pattern in the tie.
Pocket Square: David Jones Sydney 1838 black and white dot pocketsquare in a reverse puff. Stabiliser from Kuska Fabrics Kyoto 1936.
Watch: Vintage 37mm rectangular steel case Longines Saint-Imier 1832 S30 EFCo which has a black face on the dial and a steel strap.
Fragrance: Terre D'Hermes Paris 2006
ð High Shine Shoes: The high shine shoes were my black TLB Mallorca 1946 Oxfords with a Goya last, punched toe cap, French boxcalf leather from the D'Annonay Tannery 1838.
âš Todayâs Featured Detail: The black and white dot tie is not an obvious choice compared to say a navy dot tie when wearing a navy beadstripe suit. Norman Tweeboom, CEO of Bloomberg, wore this combination when he was my guest #221 on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews and I thought it was very chic and differentiated.
One Rule to Remember: Dots and stripes can work together as long as the sizes are kept well apart.
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 Engineering 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. Let's be intentional about the image, energy and credibility we bring into the room. In the first five seconds people are immediately forming a view about our professionalism, judgement and likely value.
ð© Know the Rule to Break the Rule
#22. Q: Whatâs the rule for shoe colour in menâs style?
Select your shoes so that they are darker than the colour of your suit. For example, donât go for a light tan shoe with a navy suit. For navy or black go for black shoes. Dark brown shoes or deep burgundy shoes would work with grey suits. Never wear trainers of any colour with a business suit â ever!
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:
Internal meetings with both my Sales Director and my Marketing Manager
Lunch at the Tokyo American Club, Azabudai where I separately ran into Tim Langley #40 and Hideki Matsubara #28 who were guests on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews.
British Chamber event for departing Ambassador Julia Longbottom at the T-Site in Daikanyama.
The impression I wanted to create: I always make a big effort to out English the English gentlemen when I attend their Chamber events, by being the best dressed man there and because they are all dressing down I was easily successful.
The Impression Construction Elements
Suit: Custom navy beadstripe suit in Carlo Barbera Valdilana 1949 fabric Super 140 Dolce Vita woven in Biella Italy, notch lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents.
Shirt: Thomas Pink London 1984 light blue shirt with English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007.
Tie: Ralph Lauren New York 1967 Purple Label black and white polka dot tie in a Windsor knot.
Cufflinks: Simon Carter London 1985 mother of pearl cufflinks in a dot pattern to pick up the dot pattern in the tie.
Pocket Square: David Jones Sydney 1838 black and white dot pocketsquare in a reverse puff. Stabiliser from Kuska Fabrics Kyoto 1936.
Watch: Vintage 37mm rectangular steel case Longines Saint-Imier 1832 S30 EFCo which has a black face on the dial and a steel strap.
Fragrance: Terre D'Hermes Paris 2006
ð High Shine Shoes: The high shine shoes were my black TLB Mallorca 1946 Oxfords with a Goya last, punched toe cap, French boxcalf leather from the D'Annonay Tannery 1838.
âš Todayâs Featured Detail: The black and white dot tie is not an obvious choice compared to say a navy dot tie when wearing a navy beadstripe suit. Norman Tweeboom, CEO of Bloomberg, wore this combination when he was my guest #221 on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews and I thought it was very chic and differentiated.
One Rule to Remember: Dots and stripes can work together as long as the sizes are kept well apart.
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.
