Owning your own business has some real perks like defining your own “do’s and don’ts” for your company. Dress code in the work place is one area you will make a decision about by how you dress. If you have worked in the past at a company where they have strict rules about how you must dress, then your first thought might be that you want a more relaxed business attire. You may even want to wear jeans and a t-shirt and sneakers all week, but unless you are a construction worker or you never see the light of day with your business, plan to “dress for success!”.
It amazes me how many college graduates miss that message when they go out and apply for positions or work as interns their senior year. Though you will have people say, “wear what you want”, a first impression is a lasting one and you want to offer the best impression you can. Think about if you were to go on a first date with someone and they showed up at the door looking like they haven’t showered in a month and they have ripped jeans and a t-shirt with an offensive saying on it…..though you might relate to this casual dress, chances are they will not make a great impression on you or your friends. Dressing for business works the same way. If you get an appointment with a potential client and it is their first time meeting you and you decide to go super casual and wear jeans and they are in a suit and tie, how confident will you be that they are seeing the best you?
Sure, we all want to believe that it is our abilities that sell us and not what we wear, but great marketing recognizes that people often buy with their emotions. If you look a mess, they may “think” you are not prepared to handle their business. You might be saying that if Donald Trump walked in to your office in torn jeans, you wouldn’t care. Most of the successful celebrity business people required a professional attire when they started in business and it was only after they made millions that they could dictate how they wanted to be seen.
How about if you have no meetings and will be working in your office all day, do you need to be dressed well? Again, you are the owner and you will decide this, but studies have shown that people who dress professionally while answering phones will project more confidence. And, if you get a last minute call during that day to meet with a prospect you lose no time with going back home and getting dressed for the meeting.
These days my son, who recently graduated from college, is working weekends doing telephones sales. Without me ever saying a word, he dresses each weekend professionally in a tie and sometimes full suit to sit in a cubicle to make phone sales next to co-workers who are in their comfy weekend clothes. His sales are higher than most even though he is new to the company. When I asked him if he is required to dress for the position which is commission based selling, he quickly said “no” and explained that he has watched me work from home in business dress and make-up and ready for anything when that phone rings and knows that much of my confidence comes from looking professional at all times.
Though there are jeans that cost more than some suits, you may wish to look again at how you are choosing to represent your own business and if the message you give with your own appearance is helping or hurting your brand!
All my best to your success!
~Charlene
“Success wears the Purple Diamond!”
