It has been said that, “dressing for success” is all about looking the part. And while there is some truth to that, there is more to it than just putting on a suit and tie. Dressing for success is about projecting the right image – an image of confidence, competence and credibility.
A recent study by the University of Toronto found that people who dress professionally are more likely to be seen as competent and credible than those who dress casually. In fact, the study showed that dressing professionally can even increase your chances of being hired or being promoted.
So what does this mean
A study carried out at Yale university in the US in 2014 showed that men are better negotiators if they are dressed in suits rather than casual clothing. The study found those dressed casually backed down more quickly and weren’t taken so seriously as those dressed formally.
Whether a male or female negotiator, what this shows is psychologically it is not just the impression you form in the minds of others when you dress professionally, but the mental attitude it promotes in your own mind.
This is illustrated by research carried out in 1997-8 by Dr Jeffrey L Magee, a consulting research psychologist. Dr. Magee surveyed 500 businesses of varying size to assess the impact of dress in the workplace.
He found that relaxed dress in a work setting led to a decrease in polite, mannerly behaviour, productivity and overall quality of work, commitment and company loyalty. He also found that dressing casually led to an increase in compaints to HR and litigation.
The research, which was conducted in the US, is dated now and some observations might be described as subjective. Also there may be geographic interpretations of ‘mannerly’ behaviour and what constitutes politeness. However, the overall finding of the research was to show the change in behaviour of people depending on how they dress.
Here are a few points to consider when thinking about how to dress in the workplace.
One
If you don’t like the idea of dressing formally for work consider it as a uniform. Remember, in dressing for the workplace you are preparing yourself and others mentally for the work you need to carry out. You are signalling to others how you want them to treat you and setting the tone for your interaction.
There’s nothing more satisfying when you come home than being able to ‘shed the skin’ of your work day. Changing in to casual clothing allows you to separate work time from time off. Nothing better for establishing the boundaries for a work/life balance!
Two
Make sure your clothes are ironed and clean. There’s nothing worse than a crumpled shirt or stained dress sleeve. If you can prepare your clothes and accessories the night before this becomes easy, but that won’t work for everyone. If you can’t find the time the evening before make the time in the morning, even if it means using the iron before setting off for work.
Three
Make sure your clothes fit you. I’ve still got some great outfits in the wardrobe that I bought 15 years ago. They look great, just not on me. Unfortunately I’ve put on a few pounds over the years. If this sounds like you it might be time to invest in a new wardrobe.
Four
Think about the colour of your accessories from belts, bags and socks. Make sure they match the rest of your outfit and they work with your body type.
Five
However much you like your aftershave or purfume, don’t go overboard. Use them by all means but be subtle. There’s nothing worse than smelling someone before you see them.
And finally….
When we are at work we communicate many things. If we work hard and produce results we communicate we are good at our job. We communicate our skills and qualities all the time whether we are focused on completing tasks, concilitory, creative or competitive we are always communicating something through our behaviour.
The way we dress is just another form of communication. How you dress is about projecting the image that fits the message you want to give. If you want to be taken seriously, if you want to be successful, dressing for success may help you get there.