It is often said that “the way you dress, is the way you will be addressed”. Whether one likes it or not, most people form their impressions based on one’s appearance. Most times, people lose potential clients or customers simply because of the way they dress. They probably dressed in a Shabby manner which gave the impression that this person is either unserious or not capable enough to handle certain deals.
A professional well-dressed look will always give an edge wherever one goes. A well-dressed person will tend to command respect and get people interested in doing business with him or her. Imagine a contractor going to obtain a loan from the bank, dressed in a shabby manner. One thing to note is that he will first be accessed by how he looks which might send doubt to those in charge of granting loans. The dress automatically makes him look unqualified for the loan. In the workplace, dress etiquette should never be taken with levity. There should be a level of excellence in how employees dress in the workplace.
Workplace dress etiquette is part of building executive presence, which needs to be taken seriously. Whether one likes it or not, the way one looks plays a very significant role in the success of the workplace. Some people attribute appearance to high related work performance and competence. Of course, in recent times, there seems to be an increasing rate of dressing in casual wear especially by entrepreneurs. It is important to understand that this trend is a need to understand the rules of appearance.
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Dressing professionally matters a lot because it creates an impression on others whether new business prospects, clients, customers, etc. No matter where one is on the organizational chart, they represent the company they work for. The mode of dressing is a significant part of the representation. A proper assessment of oneself is needed when they get dressed and are about to go to the workplace or to go meet a client. There should be an honest review about the way they are dressed if they will love to do business with someone who is dressed as they have.
Even conmen have understood this logic that you need to be properly dressed to get people interested in what you have to offer or say. You see a lot of them professionally dressed, although their intentions are not genuine. They attract a lot of people and are given attention when they speak. What I am trying to state is that one hardly gets turned down when they are professionally dressed. People will desire to do business with you. In order to create a desired impact in the workplace, one needs to follow a proper dress code. Dressing appropriately in the workplace creates a good lasting impression.
Individuals who dress shabbily to work are never taken seriously, even outside the workplace. The manager of an organization also has a significant role to play in ensuring that there is workplace dress etiquette. There should be laid down rules that ensure that employees must be well dressed in the workplace and ensure that those who go against such rules will be penalized. Also, they should ensure that when choosing a dress code, it should consist of professional colors like grey, white, black, blue, etc. It is believed that light and subtle colors exude elegance and professionalism and it also looks great in the office.
Aside from the dress, physical appearance should be treated properly. Such as well-groomed hair and professional hairstyles for both males and females.
Conclusion
Workplace dress etiquette is very important and should be taken seriously. It contributes to the significant growth of an organization because it creates a good impression. It increases visibility, builds influence, and enhances executive presence.