Lest you fear that dressing down might make you appear less successful to your peers or clients, fascinating research conducted by Silvia Bellezza, Francesca Gino, and Anat Keinan points in the opposite direction. Comments ranged from “I thought it was just me who felt this way” to “comfort is a confidence-booster,” with a number of professionals sharing their new office footwear. The post received over 130,000 views and 1,000 comments, mostly from my network of financial services professionals, and all were 100% supportive of the change. I shared a photo of the sneakers on LinkedIn and was overwhelmed by the response. Elegantly dressed bankers approached me to ask hopefully, “Can we wear those now?” Second, I was constantly stopped by people who complimented me on the shoes. First, I felt even more powerful on stage than I had ever felt in heels instead of worrying about the heels falling between the cracks on the podium, I could focus on my message and my audience. I wore those sneakers for two straight days at the conference, and two amazing things happened. So I tried something new: Instead of wearing my traditional power shoes, I chose new sparkly sneakers to pair with my business dress. While packing for the event, I tried on my black stilettos but simply couldn’t bring myself to wear them. Earlier this year, I was preparing for my first big-stage appearance in over two years, for the American Bankers Association. Still, my clients are large corporations, so my instinct has always been to play it safe. Observe how (or if) people react and what the response is.Īs a professional speaker, I have more leeway than if I were part of a large corporation. Perhaps you drop the tie like my clients described above, or maybe you forgo the high heels for comfortable flats. What if your colleagues aren’t noticeably changing their attire, but you feel strongly that you should? Take the lead: Try out one particular change and evaluate the response to it. Look for the nuances in how and when people dress down. My clients noted that they were much more likely to dress down when they weren’t meeting with clients. It’s refreshing!” to “The last time I wore a tie (aside from when our CEO came to visit) was when I visited a client in a retirement home.” They commented that clients were also dressing more casually, leading the dress code to go from formal business attire to what one executive called “country club casual.” You don’t have to follow what others are doing, but seeing others take those first steps may embolden you to make changes yourself. Their answers included: “I used to err on the conservative side. Recently, in a series of group coaching sessions, I asked (male) financial professionals if the dress codes were changing as they returned to the office: Most of them nodded their heads. I started polling my clients to learn what they were observing in their offices. If it feels risky to independently make a wardrobe change, look at others in your office and observe how they dress. Have you been rethinking your work attire as you transition back into the office, but you’re worried about what others will think? Here are a few steps to try if you’re considering changing things up. “Nobody really has drawn the line, and nobody really knows what the right answer is.” “Do you wear dress slacks to work? Do you wear khakis? Can you wear jeans?” he said. Now “the operative word is confusion…People really don’t know what to do.” With offices opening back up, has noticed folks are less certain about what to wear. A recent Wall Street Journal article acknowledged the “ workplace Wild West, ” and Manhattan menswear store owner Ken Giddon discussed the uncertainty on NPR: But after two years of hastily throwing a business jacket over a T-shirt and sweatpants while letting people into our homes during the Covid-19 pandemic, our tolerance for conformity - and discomfort - has changed. It can feel easier to just put on a suit and focus on the work. Traditional business attire is safe, and the rules of etiquette are often selectively and unfairly enforced depending on someone’s reputation, relationships, or business results. From expensive suits and heels to subdued colors and styles, many of us dutifully fulfilled those expectations in order to move up in our careers - a reality that is especially true for women. And while they do indeed make me feel strong and powerful, they also hurt my feet.Īnyone who has worked in a corporate environment has learned the spoken and unspoken rules of attire in the workplace. I wanted to make a powerful first impression, so I went to Nordstrom and spent 10% of my speaking fee on Jimmy Choo shoes that would “demonstrate my business success.” I’ve since worn those black stilettos on stages around the world. I remember my first keynote speech for a major Fortune 50 financial institution.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |