Whether you like it or not, your clothing communicates — and it can have a serious effect on your ability to achieve success. Research shows that your appearance strongly influences other people's perception of your financial success, authority, trustworthiness, intelligence, and suitability for hire or promotion. And, because perception is often reality, what you wear not only communicates who you are in the minds of others, but also influences your level of career advancement.
Research has also found that when you combine your appearance with communication skills, not only is others' perception of you affected, but their behavior toward you is also influenced. "Clothing plus communication skills determine whether or not others will comply with your request, trust you with information, give you access to decision makers, pay you a certain salary or fee for contracted business, hire you, or purchase your products and services," says Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results."
"Let's be clear: In the big picture of ultimate reality, what you wear neither defines who you are as a person nor determines your value as a human being," she says. "However, in the temporal realm of mere mortals, fair or not, people judge us by the way we look and that includes the way we dress." Especially in the workplace, clothing significantly influences how others perceive you and how they respond toward you, she says.
How does your way of dressing change when you work from home? Do you feel your look is still polished and professional? Let me know.
Thank you for reading.
Stay stylish friends...