As a leadership coach, I am constantly quizzed on why appearance matters in becoming influential or to grow as a leader. The din gets louder particularly in information technology companies where it is ‘cool’ to dress down which, at times, is a bare minimum with shorts, tees and flip-flops!
The other argument made is ‘..our work should matter, not how we look!’ Not to stereotype, but the general attitude shown by executives in India, towards dressing presentably, is one of indifference.
Appearance does matter as it is one of the most important optics that creates our impression of people around us. The other attributes that build perceptions are, your actions (walk the talk), your body language and your ways of conversing.
Enhancing your appearance doesn’t require you to wear expensive or branded clothes and accessories. It simply means ‘dressing well’ as in –
Dress well, as often as possible, particularly when you must influence the situation.
With unending Webinars and Zoom calls these days, do not disregard your audience with unkempt looks or a messy room in the backdrop! In the absence of salons and salonists, do your best to keep your facial hair and crest trimmed or groomed. Wear solid, and preferably dark, colour clothing as your top; the bottom isn’t visible anyway!
When addressing your audience, deliver the message in a clear, concise and confident manner with the right body language and voice. Yes, your audience can sense your confidence in your voice even if they cannot see you visually!
Dressing well boosts your presence and leaves a better impression on your audience, in an immeasurable way. I often ask leaders, “Why can’t every day be an Interview day? After all, don’t we naturally spend more time and effort dressing up prior to an interview?!”
Pay attention to your appearance if you want others to pay attention to you. Dress well, as often as possible, particularly when you must influence the situation.
- The writer is a global leadership coach and mentor, based in Mumbai. He believes in passionately inspiring CXOs to build their Gravitas. He has a decade’s experience coaching diverse leaders across industries and geographies and spent 20 years in leadership roles in investment banking, private equity, consulting and strategy.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
Your appearance at work sends many messages about how you view the environment, how much respect you have for yourself and your work, what groups you identify with, and where you think you belong within the organization. Making just a few adjustments to your appearance may lead to more and better opportunities.
Your appearance is the one personal characteristic that is immediately obvious and accessible to others. You can't hide it. Your appearance makes a strong statement about your personality, values, attitudes, interests, knowledge, abilities, roles, and goals.
Before you set up your next meeting with employees and clients, spend some time making sure your appearance is a proper reflection of your leadership style and organizational values. Remember, first impressions do matter and the right appearance will only further set you up for future success.
Plus, visual neurons do more than just see, they make decisions and think and use information from all other senses. The broad explanation for why looks matter so much is that certain appearances benefited us through evolution, like certain body types, fruit colors, looking sick/healthy or aggressive/approachable, etc.
Wear business suits or Proper Uniforms as per Company norms. Always be neat and clean, including your teeth, fingernails, face, hair, and shoes. Keep your pockets empty, and avoid tinkling coins or keys and bulges as much as possible. Avoid eating candies, smoking cigarettes, and chewing gum inside the office or Store.
Why is the appearance of productivity more important than actual productivity in the workplace? In corporations, appearances are everything. If you are productive but don't look busy, the task must have been easy. If your look busy but take a long time producing, the task must be very difficult.
"Physical appearance boosts self-confidence and self-esteem. One feels very reassured when other people admire them and prefer to associate with them because they find them very attractive. In certain professions, looks make a lot of difference. A model has to look his or her best."
Feelings about our physical appearance and self-esteem are often related because we live in an image-orientated society. Feelings of self-esteem can vary depending on whether you were born with a visible difference or disfigurement, or acquired it early in life, or experienced a change in appearance later in life.
There's a lot a person will assume about you based on your physical appearance — from how trustworthy you are to whether you're an extrovert. Your appearance can also reveal things about your health, such as your likelihood of developing certain diseases.
A number of studies have found that certain physical characteristics can affect your chance of getting hired. It has also been found that a person's employability can sometimes be based more on their attractiveness than education or job characteristics.
Physical appearance can impact someone's first impression and how they are perceived by others; as mentioned, those who feel confident in their physical appearance have higher self-esteem and feel more confident in social interactions.
As mentioned above, your appearance doesn't just impact how other people see you but how you see yourself. Confidence is important in any role. Higher self-esteem and self-worth influence your creativity and performance as a professional.
Yes, personality matters more than looks. The preference for personality and appearance may be found all around the world. People are more inclined to value personality above good appearance. Every person desires to look good.
The overwhelming truth is that image DOES matter. It is your first impression. It is also an impression of the company that you represent. You need a dress code to avoid to avoid grey areas and build consistency.
Looking Good at Work at work can make a difference how you are perceived. Dressing well will improve your self-confidence. It will also impress and attract other people. Appropriate grooming and a professional appearance are important to gain respect in the workplace.
The way you dress for your job can affect how motivated you are to work and therefore also affect how productive you are. If you look the part, you're more likely to feel the part and will have a greater drive to do what you are supposed to do.
Now, firstly, it's an unfortunate truth that how you look does play a role in whether you get hired for some jobs. Employers make snap judgments about candidates all the time, and they may turn down qualified people because of piercings, tattoos, unusual hair colors, or even just based on weight or attractiveness.
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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