Sporting the Right Threads
I’ve always heard people say that first impressions are everything, and for the most part I would have to concur that this is in fact a true statement.
When people first meet you, they are automatically squaring you up and making pre-determined judgments based upon your appearance, presentation and the way you speak.
These pre-judgmental thoughts based upon shallow evidence may not be morally correct and most of the time they obviously may not even hold true when it comes to determining a person’s true character, however it is something that we all do on a daily basis.
As young entrepreneurs, we need to use every aspect to our personal advantages to help us achieve that much needed edge upon opponents and competitors. Making sure that you are properly dressed and groomed for a meeting could be the difference between striking a deal and having the door hit you on your way out!
Depending upon your business’s service or product, who your target audience is and what type of meeting you are attending will all help persuade and determine your attire of choice.
For instance if you own a hip hop clothing store and you’re going to have a vending booth set up selling clothing at a parade or concert, obviously you need to be sporting some of the gear that you’re marketing and selling to others.
It wouldn’t make much sense for you to try and attract customers who are looking to purchase urban clothing by wearing a $2000 Armani suit; it just doesn’t match your product line or your target audience.
On the flip side, you wouldn’t want to go into a formal banking atmosphere before a review board while you’re trying to acquire a business finance loan for your start-up with baggy clothing and your hat on backwards; don’t think that would be a smart move!
When I go into a meeting to submit and negotiate bids for commercial cleaning contracts, I usually present myself as a professional by wearing slacks or khakis with a polo shirt tucked in.
However if I was to wear a full suit and tie, it might make me seem like I own a company who is afraid to get their hands dirty and properly handle their buildings maintenance requirements. I think this is always a safe route to go for most business atmospheres, not over dressed and still giving off a professional presentation all at once.
So the next time you’re attending a meeting or outing event surrounding your venture, maybe you should put more thought and effort into your attire. Sure at the end of the day how you’re ultimately viewed will depend upon your skill sets and business knowledge, but getting your foot in the door could actually rest on something as simple as sporting the right threads!
5 Comments
David Askaripour
January 5th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Well said, William. It’s important to keep in mind that 55% of likability is appearances. So no matter what you have to say or how you plan on saying it, the first impression you make on someone is how you look and how you are dressed. Knowing that, it’s in the entrepreneurs best interest to look appealing when meeting with others. Even at the expense of going against how you would normally dress, it’s important to — sadly enough — follow the status quo to some degree in this particular respect.
William
January 6th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Yea David, it’s kind of unfortunate that so many “business” related decisions rely upon such superficial ideals, but that’s just the way the game is. Sometimes you just got to adapt and go with the flow. Thanks.
Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross
January 6th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I’ve heard from at least two “experts” that you should dress one “level” above the people you’re meeting with. For example, if you’re presenting to a business where the dress code is business casual, perhaps a tie and a sport coat would be appropriate. Of course, this tops out with a suit, they weren’t suggesting that you wear a tux when presenting to bankers wearing suits:-)
Regards,
Glenn
David Askaripour
January 7th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Hey Glen,
Yeah, I’ve heard that as well. However, I guess that I never really experienced that since most of the people I meet with dress just like me, in jeans and a jacket. I guess that there have been times when I’ve showed up to meeting in sandals and felt just a “bit” awkward, but it just happens..hehe… thanks for sharing
William
January 7th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Glenn, I’ve also heard ideas similar to that as well, it’s kind of like using the “Better to over-dress than under-dress notion.” I think this is a good system and usually will nip the whole debate over what to wear in the butt.
David, I have to chuckle a bit imagining you walking into a business meeting with sandals on-hey you got to make sure you’re comfortable right!
Thanks for the discussion guys.
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