Dress for success. You have probably heard the phrase many times. My first reaction to hearing it was mainly skepticism towards the sense of superficiality that came with the message. I used to respond with questions (silently, in my head of course) such as “how can people possibly define and measure success by the way they dress?” or “how shallow do I have to become to fit such a superficial definition of success?”. Though my initial reaction erred more on the skeptical side, it didn’t take long for me to understand the practical wisdom underneath the catchy adage.
The point is this. The way you dress, groom, and put yourself together communicates a number of important things about you to those you interact with. This may include:
- Your attention to detail
- Good common and business sense on appropriate professional attire
- Awareness of how professionally you want to be taken by others
The unfortunate part of this it that the ‘communicating’ happens whether or not you want it to. All people make first impressions (as well as ongoing impressions), and a portion of it is influenced by our attire or how we present ourselves. The fact that it happens is inevitable. The fortunate part, however, is that you have influence on what kind of first impressions you leave. So, how should you dress for your work setting? About.com has an article with great guidelines for various work dress codes, ranging from relaxed casual to formal professional. The only icing I would add on top is to be observant and to pay attention to details.
Be observant. Look around you and take note of how others at your workplace dress, and go slightly above the ‘norm.’ The point isn’t to show off your fashion sense, nor your immaculate closet. It is to be aware of what is considered appropriate and expected, and then to add just a touch of conscious decision making to dress well for your work setting.
Pay attention to details. Examples such as keeping your shoes clean, accessories appropriate (or minimal, depending on your work setting), and wearing both clean and well fitting clothes may seem too little or insignificant to pay attention to. However, these are precisely the kind of details about your attire that show how detail oriented you are as a person. Remember, this isn’t a function of wearing ‘nice’ clothes or accessories. It is rather taking note of the little things that most people may overlook.
At the end of the day, my personal view on the factors that influence professional succes remain with skill and will, and above that, personal character. But understanding how ‘dress for success’ can indirectly coomunicate skill and will can be a fresh perspective to reevaluate your wardrobe and your daily attire at work.
