Professional Dress Doesn’t Distract, Part II (Wendy Samson and Curt Swenson, 2015)
There is nothing more awkward than having to speak to a direct report about their professional dress and their personal hygiene. After all, our clothing, our artifacts, the items we choose to share with the public say a lot about who we are and what we believe. So as you start this conversation with your valued employee, keep in mind that the key lesson to be learned is not that their choices are good or bad or that their taste is good or bad, it is simply the notion of adhering to the rule of “no distractions”.
What is distracting in a corporate setting?
Too much skin – You may look GREAT in a swimming suit, but you are not going to wear it to work, are you? Why then, do we think that low cleavages, or exposed bellies, or ill fitting clothing that reveal our lumps and bumps or short skirts are appropriate, no matter how attractive the wearer?
Too much cologne or perfume – What might be fitting for an evening out with a significant other, could be highly distracting at the work place. Strong body odor or clothing covered in pet urine also fall under this olfactory category of distraction.
Tattoos and piercings – Virtually everyone in the room has a tattoo or a piercing these days, so again, this is not about judgment around taste or style. Remember, most of us have belly buttons too, but we don’t reveal those in corporate settings. Why? Because they are too personal and would be distracting. If you examine the reason you got your piercings and tattoos, you might realize how personal and intimate they are to you as well.
Untidy appearance – Holes in jeans, buttons falling off, jackets that have not been laundered, shoes that should have been tossed last year, bed head, pajama bottoms, bedroom slippers, and animal hair, etc. can all be distracting from the business at hand. It doesn’t mean that people can’t have a bad hair day or that everyone should have to purchase new clothes frequently. However, just looking in the mirror and assessing what can be mended, cleaned or tossed is practical and honoring to yourself and to your organization.
Too dressy or too casual – If you’re dressed for a picnic, the beach or a football game, you may want to take it up a notch. If you are ready for a cocktail party or a family wedding, wearing silk, satin, or sequins, or REALLY high heels – you may be overdressed.
For more information on professionalism, contact the consultants at FutureSYNC International at (406) 254-2326.