By Jack Perry
Whether you like it or not, looks matter. And while most people don’t like to admit it, every human being subconsciously uses looks to size people up and draw conclusions about them. If you’re a business owner meeting with a prospective supplier and a man with a tailored suit walks through the door, your opinion of him will be different than if he’s wearing cowboy boots and jeans. If you like wearing cowboy boots and jeans, that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in the corporate world, but you will usually start in second place. When you go to work, you must dress the part.
So when you dress for work and look at yourself in the mirror, ask yourself, “Would I do business with myself?” If the answer is “No,” then get back in bed because you’re making a big mistake. If you won’t give yourself the time of day, then no one else will either.
Everyone in a position where looks matter (and that’s pretty much everyone) needs to make an excellent impression every time they go to work. How can you make sure the image you project is the image you want? First, you must be honest, timely, and candid with yourself. You must be able to be truthful because that’s the only way you’ll get better. And if you can’t be honest with yourself, get someone you trust to help you.
Then, use the following strategies for making sure you look your best every time.
1. Your Physical Person
Create your own personal checklist for success, and start from the top. Look at your hair. Is it clean? Is it trimmed and styled? If not, you need to change. Determine how long it takes for your haircut to start looking shaggy. Can you go a month? Six weeks? Or is your hair a mess in two weeks? Then schedule your trims in advance so you’re sure to look well groomed.
Next, work your way down. Look at your teeth. You need to go to the dentist regularly and brush every day.
Look at your posture. If you’re slumped over with your head hanging down, no one will have confidence in you. Look at your hands. Are your fingernails clean? Finally, look at your body as a whole. Are you fit? If not, take better care of yourself. Eat healthier and get more exercise. Not only will you look better, but you’ll feel more confident in your appearance as well.
2. Your Clothing
Next, look at how you’re dressed. In reality, your clothing will most likely be the first thing other people will notice. Start with the basics. Do your clothes fit you or is the jacket too tight and the pants too short? Are your clothes clean? Or are they stained and discolored? Are they pressed? Are your shoes clean and shined?
Then you need to consider how your clothes look on you. Color choices are important. Some people can wear red and others can’t. Some people look washed out in white or black. What colors work best for you? Make sure your clothes compliment your hair and skin tones.
Finally, check the details and quality of your wardrobe. Some people can’t afford a custom shirt to wear every day, but it communicates attention to detail. If you can invest in one custom shirt and one tailored suit and reserve it for your most important meetings, it can make a big difference in the way you feel and the way people feel about you.
3. Your Workspace
The way you work and how organized you are speak volumes about your credibility and professionalism. So keep your briefcase polished, clean, and organized. You don’t want to open your briefcase in front of a prospect and have a stack of papers spill onto the floor. They’ll think you’re incompetent. You want your briefcase to scream “attention to detail” and “organization.” The same goes for your calendar and day planner; keep them neat and organized.
Make sure your car is clean, free of clutter, and doesn’t smell like stale French fries. You might not think these appearances matter as long as you deliver on your promises. But people take into consideration all these factors when they formulate their impressions of you and your capabilities as a professional. If your workspace is a mess and your competition’s is clean and neat, you are opening the door to competition.
4. Your Habits
Finally, look at all the habits and practices you use to get you through the day. Are your thoughts clear, planned, and prioritized? Or do you run in a million different directions at once? Are you prepared for each day? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants? Are you punctual? Do you deliver what you say you will? Or do you forget and let little things slip?
Take time each day to plan a strategy and make a list of what you need to accomplish. Then, at the end of the day, recap and prepare for the next day. Ask yourself what worked and what didn’t. How can you make tomorrow more successful than today?
Your Success in the Future
Other people make instantaneous decisions about you based on your appearance, your clothing, your workspace, and your habits. If you want to successfully compete in the competitive business world, then you need to play by the rules. You don’t have to give up your cowboy boots, but save them for your day off. Not everyone needs to dress like an IBM executive all the time, but make sure your uniform for success works for your industry.
You need to be your toughest critic. Ask yourself, “Would I do business with me?” And if your eyes aren’t clear enough to give you a candid and accurate answer to this critical question, ask someone to help you.
Success is a combination of all the little things. When you use these strategies to make sure you look your best and ensure you have everything you need to be successful, nothing will hold you back.
You from The Respect Factor® Series
THE RESPECT FACTOR® is a trademark of Jack Perry in the United States and other countries. Used with permission. ©2009 Jack Perry. All rights reserved
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