Signatures are very important both as a legal self-identification, and as a form of personal expression. The shape of your signature can convey a message about your behavior, personality, and position. Repairing a signature can be both professionally rewarding and personal. The ideal signature will vary from person to person, but improving the way you create your signature is an easy thing to do.
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Part 1 of 2: Creating a Signature You Like
Step 1. Study your current signature
Sign your name on a piece of paper and look carefully. What do you want to change? Figuring out the difference you want will help plan your signature improvement.
- Check the readability level. Can someone read your name or initials just by looking at them?
- Consider whether you prefer your signature in cursive or bold letters, or a mixture of the two.
- Pay attention to certain letters, especially the initials. Do you like how it looks, or are there certain letters that you don't find very appealing?
Step 2. Research the signature
Find a style you like, so you can decide what changes you'll use. Start by researching the signatures of people you admire. You might be able to find some inspiration from their signatures.
- If you are an artist planning to sign your works, focus on the work of other artists. Consider the media used; signatures on paintings are often simpler than signatures on paper, but are usually still unique.
- Research the signatures of historical figures. In the past, writing was a much more important skill, so you may be able to find the beautiful handwriting of a person who lived in the 19th century. Signatures of famous presidents or writers can be easily found online.
Step 3. Decide what typeface you like
If you're interested in cursive, an old-school writing guide can give you the perfect inspiration. You may want letters that are sharp and jagged. Researching a font database, or looking at a calligraphy book in the library might help you determine your preferred style.
When you have found a typeface, print it out or make a copy of the letter sequence. You may find several types of fonts interesting, so choose your favorite from each
Step 4. Write capital letters
Your initials will be the main part of your signature, and should be personal and legible. You will probably only write your initials often.
- Try a puffy shape, like a circle, to see if you like it.
- Practice writing your name in capital letters until you're happy with how it looks.
Step 5. Practice constantly
To produce a uniform signature shape, you need to practice at every opportunity. Your hand will remember the rhythm and pattern of your signature through this loop, so you don't have to consciously remember it eventually.
- Whenever you need to sign something, try creating your new signature.
- Write your name over and over on the paper. You can do this during a school lesson or an office meeting when you have nothing else to do but doodle, or when you're sitting at home watching TV.
- Eventually you'll have this signature memorized by heart.
Step 6. Be consistent
A signature is an important identification. When you decide to create a new signature, be sure to create the same signature on the back of all credit cards you use and purchase receipts. When other people compare signatures to confirm your identity, these two signatures must match.
Part 2 of 2: Sending the Right Message with Your Signature
Step 1. Determine the size
How big your signature is will convey how much confidence you have. A signature that is larger than the surrounding writing conveys high self-confidence, but can also be seen as arrogance. Smaller signatures are self-motivated, but can also indicate that the author lacks confidence.
To start with, it is best to create a medium-sized signature. This signature will convey balance and simplicity
Step 2. Check the readability
Often times, an illegible signature is caused by a lack of time to sign something, when in fact it doesn't take too long to sign something so that it can be read.
- A signature that cannot be easily read can convey a message that the author believes that his identity should be clear to all.
- This may come across as arrogant or reckless.
Step 3. Consider your initials
Using initials taken from the first name can convey a formal message. But some initials may form words you don't want to be associated with.
- If your initials form an abbreviation or word, avoid using them.
- If you are trying to establish a relaxed work environment, use your first name as part of your signature and in your communications.
- If you're trying to establish a hierarchical relationship in your business, use the initials of your first name to convey a sense of formality.
Step 4. Decide which name you will use
How long your signature needs to be written may depend on the particular situation. Very few people are widely known by just one name. Celebrities can sign everything with their first name, but in the vast majority of cases, this is not the way to go.
- If your name is very common, the person you're calling may be confused, so it's best to write both your names, including the middle name in your initials to confirm your identity.
- If you have a close relationship with the recipient of your letter, and want to convey a close impression, consider using only your first name. Letters to family are a good example of this.
- Use your title such as Professor or Doctor only in formal communication with your subordinates. This can help establish a professional working atmosphere with someone who is too laid back.
Step 5. Don't use academic degrees too often
If you have worked hard to earn a professional or academic degree, you may be tempted to include it in a letter, such as an S. E., or M. Kes., at the end of your signature. This academic degree should only be used professionally and not for everyday use.
- Add academic degrees when professionally required, Nurses, Psi., and PhDs all convey professional qualifications. While a bachelor's degree is usually not, and should not be included in the signature. You can include this information in your CV.
- Military titles and professional and academic titles cannot be used together. If you have both, use your military title instead. If the context of the letter relates to your professional title, do not include your military title.
- Consider the context of the letter. If you're a professor and everyone in your department has a PhD, you're likely to meet someone who doesn't understand who insists on using this title on your colleagues. In such cases, you should write a formal signature to your subordinates, but more informally to your colleagues.
