Personal Picture as well as the Gown Code: Why It Matters
Your professional picture is undoubtedly an important part of your military to civilian transition vocation search - as well as your subsequent occupation. Even just in an era of mostly casual business settings - coffee shop meetings and video conferences - and casual business dress codes - "business casual" and casual Friday - a professional image continues to be expected.
So if it really isn't the dress code, what forms the basis of a professional image? Harvard Business School professor, Laura Morgan Roberts, defines professional image as: the set of attributes and qualities that represent perceptions of your competence and character as judged by your key constituents (i.e., clients, superiors, subordinates, colleagues).
Simply put, Ms. Roberts is describing an ability to exceed expectations, meet deadlines, and be an overall positive contribution to your workplace. In some ways, it's more challenging to create and maintain a professional image today, but there are also more opportunities to shape your image. Actually, your professional image is the entire set of impressions that people in the office have of you, so you can handle most interactions as an opportunity to build your reputation.
In a world of billionaires in blue jeans, is it still important to dress for success? It may all seem a bit outdated. After all, we've all seen pictures of corporate CEOs in "business casual" and even blue jeans. And if it's good enough for them, why not for you?
Here's a rule of thumb: whenever your net worth exceeds the combined worth of about 200 of the wealthiest people you know personally, you probably can relax about whatever you do. In other words, ordinary mortals need to dress appropriately. But what exactly does it mean: to dress for success?
Well, it depends—but it doesn't depend entirely—on the tradition and standards of your workplace, or, if you're changing positions, those of the company or firm you hope will hire you. However, there's more to it than meets the eye, and for every authentic mover and shaker who looks like they fix trucks for a living, there are twelve types of well-dressed losers.
It’s About You, Not the Clothes
When you dress for success, you make a powerful statement about who you are and where you're going. Putting together this aspect of your professional image is crucial. Give it some thought carefully and decide what you need to start doing, stop doing, or do differently to put your best foot forward.
There's a popular story about Carol Burnett, the famous comedienne, who could never get into character until she found the right shoes. The way you dress influences how you feel and how you carry yourself. For this reason, it also has a significant impact on how others treat you. It's human nature that people tend to respect those who clearly respect themselves.
Dress for Where You’re Going, Not Where You Are
So much of dressing for success has to do with "state of mind." It's about how you feel and think about yourself and (let's be honest) influencing how others do the same. Help them see you as someone who's clearly on the move, ready for new and broader responsibilities. Clearly, you can’t achieve this with clothing alone, but stellar on-the-job performance combined with a winning professional style positively invites opportunity and success.
Always Be Slightly Better Dressed Than Everyone Else in the Room
With the possible exception of your boss, aim to dress with a little more sophistication than those around you. Don't overdo it or you might cause resentment, but someone has to look sharper than everyone else, and it might as well be you.
Always Be Slightly Better Dressed – It’s About You, Not the Clothes
Personal Image as Well as the Dress Code – Personal Picture and the Gown Code – Personal Picture and the Gown