Each day I commute via train. Each day I might see up to a couple of hundred different people coming and going at various stations, and that’s just on the train. Then there are the thousands that pass by in the station and on the road.
When I get to the Maritz building, I interact with up to 400+ people on a daily basis, although the core interactions are probably around 30. These are some of the smartest people I know, doing amazing things daily. Creative directors, marketers, finance folks, HR people and more.
Yet if you were to judge these people on appearance, you might think that they’re “normal”.
You might be surprised to know that they’re creating innovative solutions and off-the-wall creative ideas for some of the biggest companies in the marketplace today. Why? Because of an out-of-date mantra that says you have to dress a certain way for business.
I read a newspaper article the other day by a high-end tailor, who was saying you need this suit and these shoes and that hat if you want to create the “right expression”. But he wasn’t defining a certain industry or profession – he was saying all business people should be in suit and tie, otherwise you don’t get taken seriously.
This is a mistake.
Clothes don’t make the man or woman anymore. It never should have to start with. The idea that a suit and tie is the de rigueur dress code for business is as outdated as 486 processors are for computers. The guys I work with? Jeans, trainers, tee shirts, casual shirts – pretty much anything but a suit and tie. Yet they’re responsible for multi-million dollar business deals and ideas.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing to wear a suit and tie or a really smart skirt and jacket mix – some people feel more comfortable in this outfit just as some prefer casual. But the key word here is choosing – give people the choice as opposed to making it for them and you’ll get a more effective employee/colleague.
I pretty much guarantee it.
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Good point Danny! I 100% agree with you in that it is not only wrong but foolish, to make pass judgement based on how someone is dressed! Of course whether you are in business with musicians or bankers, how you dress will allow you to blend in or stand out (both in good and bad ways). They way you choose to dress is a key form of expression and can offer a statement on your personality, what you stand for and who you are. Laid back, serious, fun, ambitious… and in every environment the dress to match the trait may differ.
But it is important to remember that you are making a choice and, right or wrong, it will impact how others perceive you. So make it your choice. But choose intentionally.
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Well said Danny. People often ask me why I'm so dressed up. I don't consider it “dressed up” its just the way I am. And I choose to be like that, no one is making me. We are prone to judging people by appearance and sooner or later we will realize what a mistake that is.
Good point Danny! I 100% agree with you in that it is not only wrong but foolish, to make pass judgement based on how someone is dressed! Of course whether you are in business with musicians or bankers, how you dress will allow you to blend in or stand out (both in good and bad ways). They way you choose to dress is a key form of expression and can offer a statement on your personality, what you stand for and who you are. Laid back, serious, fun, ambitious… and in every environment the dress to match the trait may differ.
But it is important to remember that you are making a choice and, right or wrong, it will impact how others perceive you. So make it your choice. But choose intentionally.
Great point, Danny, but one that I don't believe many organizations want to adhere to. To me, the benefit of having a choice of dress is knowing you can work comfortably, whatever that may mean to you. If a day calls for a suit, great; if you feel you'll be more effective in jeans and a t-shirt, then you should be able to wear it openly and not catch flack.
I'm a proponent of dressing professionally at the right times, but dressing comfortably in your own style can be great for productivity and for helping people feel they're accepted just as they are by their employer.
Twitter: ariherzog
If looks aren't everything, then explain why every “professional” job interview has an unwritten rule both male and female candidates wear suits (or as close to suits as possible) for a maximum percentage of success? Any less clothing, and you risk not getting the job. This, despite the fact the corporate culture may be anti-suit and you could wear jeans.
Looks are very important.
They're important, but they're not everything. That's the gist of the post, Ari – that the unwritten rule is out of date. More companies are coming round to this now, and realizing that the stuffiness of “required interview garb” is much less important than the actual candidate themselves.
I've been blessed throughout my career in that people hired me because of my capabilities and the results I brought to the table. I say “blessed” because I've always preferred casual dress over business – comfort over style – and the fact is, I do my best work that way.
And it's capabilities that should be the over-riding factor in anything, Mark, not how well you wear an outfit. Suits don't make money – talent does.
That's an interesting point you make about “acceptance”, Teresa, and one that I don't think is limited to dress code anymore. Companies are beginning to see the advantage of allowing remote working, for example – it keeps the employee fresh as opposed to feeling as if they're constantly under scrutiny.
At the end of the day, as long as you're doing the job you're paid for, does it matter where and how you're dressed?
Gone are the day of Man Men!
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Gone are the day of Man Men!
Good point Danny! I 100% agree with you in that it is not only wrong but foolish, to make pass judgement based on how someone is dressed! Of course whether you are in business with musicians or bankers, how you dress will allow you to blend in or stand out (both in good and bad ways). They way you choose to dress is a key form of expression and can offer a statement on your personality, what you stand for and who you are. Laid back, serious, fun, ambitious… and in every environment the dress to match the trait may differ.
But it is important to remember that you are making a choice and, right or wrong, it will impact how others perceive you. So make it your choice. But choose intentionally.
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Interesting article-Looks Aren’t Everything
http://ow.ly/B5iN
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I agree with a target audience. You need it and you also need to know who actually needs your service and how you can solve it for them using social tools. If you don't know what you need then you are going to be in a rut.
Good point Danny! I 100% agree with you in that it is not only wrong but foolish, to make pass judgement based on how someone is dressed! Of course whether you are in business with musicians or bankers, how you dress will allow you to blend in or stand out (both in good and bad ways). They way you choose to dress is a key form of expression and can offer a statement on your personality, what you stand for and who you are. Laid back, serious, fun, ambitious… and in every environment the dress to match the trait may differ.
But it is important to remember that you are making a choice and, right or wrong, it will impact how others perceive you. So make it your choice. But choose intentionally.
Definitely, Daria, and it all boils down to choice – you know better than anyone what the person opposite you needs, so you adjust accordingly. Some may find the traditional suit and tie out of place, and that could adversely affect any pitch or presentation – you have to go with the flow.
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Hi Danny,
This is a great post, and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I remember back in the 60's when dad would go to work with a suit, white shirt, tie, black hat and spit shine polished shoes. As a little girl, I thought he was the most handsome man on the earth. Those days are gone, why I really don't know our culture has changed. Nobody, needs to dress like this to be successful, dad never looked down on the ones that didn't. Dad also taught me to, never judge a book by it's cover!
I'm a Network Marketer, last week I had the opportunity to give my business card to a man that could use some health products. By the looks of him, you would think the only clothes that he owned was the clothes on his back. Latter that day my husband said, the man you gave your business card to, he's a millionaire a few times over.
My thoughts, “The clothes never make the person”
That reminds me of a story about Bill Gates and making a visit to the UK. He went to a restaurant for lunch and because he wasn't dressed in “the attire”, he was turned away (he was wearing his traditional cord trousers). Never mind the fact that he could probably buy all the restaurants in the UK and then some!
There's more to what just meets our eyes for sure, Debby.
Twitter: dariasteigman
Hi Danny,
If I ruled the world, people would go to work in wicking, comfortable sports wear. But I know that I'm going to get more credibility from a prospect (or most of my clients) if I'm more “business focused,” so I adjust.
It is great that the business world has become far less monolithic in its approach, but each of us has to be conscious of what matters to the person across the table. That's the tailor's mistake (and perhaps the fatal error in his business plan if he keeps selling nothing but high-end suits): thinking everyone is coming from the same starting point.
Best,
Daria
Definitely, Daria, and it all boils down to choice – you know better than anyone what the person opposite you needs, so you adjust accordingly. Some may find the traditional suit and tie out of place, and that could adversely affect any pitch or presentation – you have to go with the flow.
Its like “All that glitters is Gold”.Similarly you cannot judge a person by its appearance.Its the sheer talent that highlight the personality and quality of any person.
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Its like “All that glitters is Gold”.Similarly you cannot judge a person by its appearance.Its the sheer talent that highlight the personality and quality of any person.
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