Business Networking – To Dress Or Not To Dress (this is the question)
People form an opinion of you within the first 7 seconds of laying eyes on you. Notice I did not say meeting you. Once that opinion is made by someone, the rest of the time is spent by that person trying to find evidence to support that opinion.
Terrific news, right? On the one hand, we should not waste our lives trying to please others, but on the other hand, should we try to influence their opinions about us with our appearance? Well, why the heck not? I mean, it’s an easy thing to do and there is an added benefit to us – if we look good, we generally feel good, too. And our attitude helps not only our productivity, it also helps our health.
Now I have been guilty of this myself, so don’t think I’m trying to preach here. Say that you’re a landscape contractor or that your business is personal training. Should you attend a networking event in your “industrial” uniform? I mean, in you dirt covered dungarees or shorts? Perhaps in your sweaty leotards? You may be thinking, “I want them to know what I do and how dedicated and busy I am, and besides, I just came from work.” I’ve done that. If timing is tight and this only happens occasionally, that’s okay. Not the end of your business world. But think about this – no matter what you do for money, whether it’s bronc riding, personal fitness training, putting out fires, chasing UFO’s, whatever, you want to be seen as a “Business Professional.” That means that you take your business seriously and you DO your business whether or not you’re working IN your business. Doing your business is different. It means that you are outside the day to day technical aspects of keeping it running and that you are MARKETING and PROMOTING your business. To do that, you want to look Business Professional, and that means dressing appropriately at the networking events. Now, you can do business casual if you want. I personally hate suits and ties just as much as the next guy, although a supplemental sports jacket now and then helps considerably. But don’t think that you can wear Bermuda shorts and a sports jacket and you’ll look okay, especially if you wear those knee-high socks with them (and don’t get me started on sandals!) – you will probably generate a couple questions or comments which, trust me, you don’t want! As for the women, I am smart enough not to comment here about their appropriate or inappropriate dress. It’s all I can do to get my socks to match.
The point is this…if you wish to be taken seriously at a networking event, if you want others to know that you take your business and your image seriously and that you are a business professional who is here to stay, then you want to dress appropriately. Image is everything and once again, people form an opinion of you within the first seven seconds of SEEING you. Once that opinion is formed it is almost impossible to change it in the eyes of the opinion holder.
So…unless you hang out with blind people, be aware of how you look to others. Remember to dress for success!
To your business networking success!
Please visit businessnetworkingmistakes.com to get a FREE report about how networking mistakes can cripple your business. You may also visit networkingfun.com
