Desire more trust from your boss and coworkers? Or, perhaps you want to be recognized as an innovator? Research suggests you should be more intentional about what you wear. A recently study identified five things your clothes say about you. For example, if you want to be known as conscientious, then you should dress more formally. Whereas, if you want to be seen as creative and open-minded, you should opt for more messy, unconventional clothing.
But wait, there’s more…
To Improve Performance, Dress How You Want To Act
Besides looking more reliable, it turns out dressing more formally could make you act that way too. When research subjects wore lab coats they acted more attentive and careful. The results of these studies shouldn’t surprise us. We all (consciously or not), know that people hear what they see. How we choose to dress is normally viewed as a reflection of who we are. For example, for decades, people have been advised in their careers to, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” The idea being people need to visualize you in the role in order to make the decision to give it to you – and the clothes will help them see you as a fit.
80’s Power-dressing = The Rise of Shoulder Pads
A great example of this happened during the 80s, when power-dressing was used by the increasing number of working women to give them an authoratitive look in an environment dominated by men. The style was mainly achieved by the use of shoulder pads which were used in suits, dresses and jackets to give a broader look to the shoulders.
Trademark Your Look To Prove Your Confidence
If you really want to show your professional confidence, you should consider creating a signature look. Steve Jobs is one of several high-profile professionals who wore the same thing to work every day.William Arruda, a personal branding guru and author of Ditch. Dare. Do!, says this practice can be part of personal branding. “They wear what they wear because that’s what they feel comfortable wearing,” he says. “When you wear something that just feels right, you are confident. And it is also great to have a trademark look. It makes you memorable and distinctive.”
PS – Expensive Clothes Don’t Solve A Performance Problem
You might think after reading this buying expensive clothes are all you need to do to look and act more successful, but beware. Studies show an obsession with pricey, flashy outfits (especially with women), indicates narcissism. Having a reputation as narcissist could make it harder to get people to work with you.
The final takeaway? Choose your clothes wisely to help you perform at your best!
(Sourced from J.T. O’Donnel via www.inc.com)