professional attire
Success Tweet 69: Respect Yourself
Jul 22nd
I’m almost half way through this series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less. You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com. Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.
Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 69…
Demonstrate respect for yourself and others in your dress. People will notice and respond positively to you.
How you dress says a lot about how much you respect yourself, and how much you respect other people. You read that right. Your attire is about respect. If you respect yourself, you will dress well and look good. If you respect other people, you will dress well and look good. It’s as simple as that.
Just this morning, I saw something on line from the Napoleon Hill Foundation that applies here.
“If you haven’t the willpower to keep your physical body in repair, you also lack the power of will to maintain a positive mental attitude in other important circumstances that control your life.”
While this quote is directed at your physical condition, it applies to the condition of your wardrobe as well. You have to take the time to keep your clothes in good repair. Clothes that are clean and pressed, fit well and are in good repair show that you care.
Clothes that are wrinkled, have spots from previous wearings, are too tight – or too big – and have missing buttons or undone hems characterize you as someone who doesn’t care. Someone with little self respect. Someone with little respect for other people.
People notice how you look. It’s as simple as that. So put a little thought into getting dressed each day. Make sure that what you wear reflects the professional you are. You don’t have to spend tons of money on your wardrobe. But you do need to maintain it. Pay attention here, this is solid career advice.
When I was in high school, I saw a movie called “To Sir, With Love.” Sidney Poitier played a teacher in a tough neighborhood in London. He was determined to teach his students life lessons in addition to the regular curriculum.
He had only a couple of shirts and ties. But he washed and ironed his shirts after every wearing. He looked good in the classroom. He did this because he respected himself and his students. He wanted to be a positive role model.
That movie is over 40 years old, but Sidney Poitier’s dedication to pride in personal appearance has stuck with me all these years – and it’s the main lesson that comes from today’s career success tweet.
The common sense career success coach point here is simple. Successful people respect themselves and the people they meet. Your appearance is one way to demonstrate self respect. Follow the advice in Tweet 69 in Success Tweets. “Demonstrate respect for yourself and others in your dress. People will notice and respond positively to you.” Taking a few minutes each day to make sure that your clothes are clean and in good repair shows that you care. And when you care, other people notice and respond positively to you. Showing that you care is a great way to create positive personal impact.
That’s my take on the career advice in tweet 69 in Success Tweets. What’s yours? Please take a minute to leave a comment, sharing your thoughts with us. As always thanks for reading.
Bud
Success Tweet 68: Dress One Level Up
Jul 21st
I’m almost half way through this series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less. You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com. Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.
Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 68…
Be well groomed and appropriate for every situation. Always dress one level up from what is expected. You’ll stand out from the crowd.
Your appearance says a lot about you. My best career advice on to how your attire can help you create positive personal impact is simple common sense. Dress one level up. In other words, dress a little nicer than you have to. For example, if your office is casual wear a dress or a suit every once in a while.
I always get dressed up when I am meeting clients. Many of my clients dress casually. When they tell me, “You didn’t need to wear a suit today,” I say, “Yes I did. I’m meeting with an important person — you.” Show respect for yourself and the people around you by dressing well and looking good.
Accessories are an important part of your appearance. In general, you want your accessories to compliment, not overpower your clothing. Keep them understated and elegant. Large rings and earrings, bracelets that jangle every time you move can distract from your look and your professionalism. Save the bling for evenings out, tone it down at work.
Pay attention to your electronic accessories. A couple of years ago, I saw a Wall Street Journal article about electronic accessories. It made some interesting points about cell phones, PDAs and other electronic helpers – all small enough to tote around with us all the time – and how they can hurt your image as a professional. Look around, you’ll see that most senior executives aren’t overburdened by electronic accessories. They don’t wear cell phone ear pieces and don’t clip their phones on their belts. Keep your electronic accessories in your briefcase or purse, not on display. You will be projecting a more professional image.
In Wildly Sophisticated, my friend Nicole Williams lays out ten fashion commandments. I think they are invaluable advice for creating a professional look and helping you dress one level up.
1. Sweat the small stuff. People don’t necessarily notice if you’re groomed, but they definitely notice when you’re not.
2. Restrain yourself. Never let your accessories wear you.
3. Know your body. Recognize that every style trend is not designed for you. This isn’t a limitation – it’s just reality.
4. Black is your friend. Black staples – pants, skirts and jackets are clean, classic and they always look good. They’re flattering, will work with everything else in your closet and will stretch your clothing budget.
5. Focus on your feet. A great pair of shoes can make all the difference in your look. Make sure your footwear is polished and clean. This is another one of those details that people really do notice.
6. Welcome the three-way mirror. Make sure your clothes fit well. Clothes that fit well make you look more professional and help your confidence.
7. Work it. Style is really a synonym for self-expression. You’ll feel and look better when your clothes reflect your personality. I’m a big guy. I look better in conservative clothing, so I wear Brooks Brothers – and often get complimented on my appearance.
8. Buy quality. In the long run, quality clothes will actually save you money.
9. Invest in accessories. Your bag or briefcase is a constant companion. Clients, employers and colleagues notice what’s on your arm. Invest in a quality piece that reflects your style. And in this age of laptops, cell phones and PDAs, a bag that will carry your hardware is a lifesaver.
10. Relax. Bottom line? Its just fashion. Give it your best shot; know that style matters and that looking groomed and professional are important for your career.
The common sense career success coach point here is simple. Follow the career advice in Tweet 68 in Success Tweets. “Be well groomed and appropriate for every situation. Always dress one level up from what is expected. You’ll stand out from the crowd.” “Act as if” is one of the bits of career advice I often offer my career success coach clients. One way to “act as if” is to dress as if you’re in the position to which you aspire. That means dressing at least one level up from what is expected of you. For men, a blazer and slacks with a nice shirt and tie, or for women a suit with a silk blouse and tasteful accessories will help you create the look of a successful professional – someone who is going places.
That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 68 in Success Tweets. What’s yours? Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us. As always, thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.
Bud
