Dress Codes: Raising the Bar on Professionalism
Like it or not, you are immediately judged by your appearance. Think about it. If you were a prospective client, would you hire someone dressed in a suit that doesn’t match or fit properly; or would you be more likely to hire the one wearing the crisp, clean, well-tailored, fitted-to-perfection suit? It’s really fairly obvious, isn’t it?
What you wear in the office is really important. Not just to your clients, not just for your co-workers; but for you. When you dress appropriately, you have more confidence in everything you do, and every conversation you have. Mark Twain said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” The same could be said about the inappropriately dressed.
A Dress Code is a Set of Standards
If your firm doesn’t have a written dress code policy, you might think about drafting one. Naturally, a balance should be met between allowing your firm to maintain its professional dignity, and at the same time, allowing an individual to express his or her own personal style. Your firm may wish to have more than one policy, so as to include a summer, or “casual Fridays”, code.
The goal of your policy, or policies, is to ensure that each member of the company is conveying the right image day-in-and-day-out. Conveying the proper image will inspire the trust of your supervisors, clients, and co-workers.
In other words, dress – and play –the part; to perfection. And never forget what your mother said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
The question of the day then is this: does your company have a written dress code? If so, how do you feel about it? If not, do you feel they should have one – and how can you be a part of making that happen? Leave your comments below.
Resources:
Summer Dress Code
http://www.xperthr.com/pages/summer-dress-code/
How to Dress Professionally
http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-dress-professionally-business-dress-code-basics/
A Formal, Professional Dress Code
http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_formal.htm
