UTurn^TV

Anyone who is self-employed will know that there are as many positives as negatives in running your own business.  For me personally, one of the best positives is having the freedom to create my own environment.  Where I work, what hours I work, what decisions I make and…. what I wear.

I had a conversation recently with another business owner who, very casually, “and of course I put my best suit on for the meeting”.  Why it stuck in my mind I don’t know, however, I did begin to notice that many people mentioned this as part of their normal preparation for meetings.

I don’t wear suits anymore.  I spent more than 15 years going to offices where wearing a suit or formal business dress was an absolute must.  I remember ‘dress down Friday’s’ as a clothing nightmare because I had to think really hard about what to put on, which I never had to do Monday to Thursday.  I did think it was all a bit pointless anyway as there were more rules for what you couldn’t wear on Fridays which ended up being an apparel minefield.  These days I just wear what I want to wear, but then as I am self-employed I have that choice.

When in discussion with clients about who they are at work, many will say something to the effect that “I have my work personality and my home personality and my work personality comes off with my suit.”  It always strikes me as very odd that anyone would make a deliberate choice to assume two different personalities into their psyche, AND that they would associate one of them with a set of clothes.

It is clear that some areas of business where people work in offices are not holding fast to the idea that formal work wear is a necessity.  I can’t remember the last time I met someone who works in web design who wore a suit.  Whilst I imagine there have been one or two I have found on the whole there is a much more relaxed attitude to clothing.

It’s clear that the suited approach to business is one that is very deep seated in our culture and, in general, the expectation is that an important business meeting requires a suit.  During one conversation someone asked me “wouldn’t you wear a suit if you were going to an important meeting?”, the inference being that I would have no hope of sitting in front of a potential corporate client in my informal clothing and win any business.

When we look at others we make an instant judgement about them don’t we?  We make a judgement based on our own beliefs and prejudices and clothing plays a big part in our perception of others. We all know or have heard of billionaires who dress like they live on the streets and people who don’t have a bean to their name but are walking around in the latest designer gear. (My grandma always referred to them as ‘all fur coat and no underwear’.)

My skills, abilities, intelligence, dedication, determination, motivation do not change dependent upon what I wear but many of us set a great deal of store by what we see.

I would encourage all of us to take the time to look beneath the clothing (not literally obviously) and focus on who it is you are talking to, what they are saying and whether this is a person that you can connect with.

I for one will continue to dress the way I feel like dressing so if you meet me be sure and say how fab my outfit looks!

I would love to hear your views so please leave a comment below.

Lots and lots of love

Jules

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Posted in: Business Coaching,Motivation
Tags:business,work wear