Dress for Success - not Failure!
By Evelyn Lundström, 
Managing Director of First Impressions Image Consultancy Pty Limited
www.firstimpressions.com.au 

OK – you know you can do your job well! The question is …… is it really important to also look like you can do the job?

For some people, I guess this question is of no importance, especially if they are happy with their current position and salary, and have no wish for more responsibility, recognition, promotion or anything else. For others who do want more, just taking some time out to re-assess what you want from your jobs and life generally is always a worthwhile exercise. 

Whatever your business goal is, to achieve it you need to dress up the product – and that product is YOU. 

Think about it. When selling any service or product (i.e. property or management services etc), first you need to sell yourself. I know there will be those who will valiantly debate this issue saying – “it shouldn’t matter what you look like if you can do your job.” Well - not wishing to put a dampener on this view, (I invariably end up doing this anyway when working with professionals) working hard, being conscientious and reliable and turning up on time are not going to get you promoted, because doing a good job is simply what you get paid for.

It’s your personal image, management style and visibility that are the things that will make the difference to how far you get and how well you get on in your organisation. Careers are now the responsibility of the individual, not the organisation. Dynamic companies today can offer you an arena for you to display your talents, NOT a job for life anymore. In return, they want loyalty, and a job well delivered.

Developing one-self into a marketable product is vitally important for those 
who do want more from their jobs. I have worked with many professionals whose roles vary across all levels from CEOs and upper management to executives, front-line teams and support staff, and I stress the importance of looking like you can do the job, because it can reinforce or undermine who you are and what you do. 


Six clear reasons why your personal image is an indispensable tool for career development:

1. Seeing is believing! 
In our world today we are dominated by visual images and are inclined to believe the evidence of our eyes. So, if someone also looks professional, we are prepared to believe that they will act professionally unless they let us down.

2. Your personal style influences …..the decision-makers in your career development. One of the main reasons for people not advancing in their careers is because of the effect their personal style has on others. 
This relates to the way you ‘do what you do’, your behaviour towards others, the way you put your image together, and your attitude to people around you. Paying attention to your personal style will make sure you are noticed for the right reasons in your organisation – and not given notice!!

3. We rely on first impressions in our busy world today. 
In our ever-changing fast paced culture, we don’t have time to find out the details about every person we meet during our working day. The visual image they create via their body, posture, and dress-style speak before they’ve uttered a word. Q. Are you sure the impression you leave with people is aligned with what you intended to give out? If there is an element of doubt – get a professional image audit. It’s not only good to know – but over a nice caffe latte – hey…. who’s complaining?

4. We are all in sales!
You are an ambassador for your organisation, no matter what level you are at. Those professionals who have real clout are usually extremely well dressed. They see dressing correctly for business as simply another business skill. People can assume that if someone is inappropriately or badly dressed, they may have other negative qualities too. “If she/he can’t get a suit that fits, can she/he really impress that prospective buyer or bring in more listings?” 

Fair? Hey - life’s not fair. All that is required for us to do is play the game. This means dressing to be congruent with your outcome/s, your ‘audience’ and each situation. (This relates to your personal life too. For example, if you want a relationship, or wish to spice up an existing relationship, then dressing for sex appeal and not celibacy could be an important decision to make don’t you think?) 

5. Star quality
We all need an edge in business to be and stay successful. We may have the right qualifications and experience, yet we also need to communicate our individuality within the bounds of what is appropriate to be able to stand out from the crowd. How else do you pick a star in a field of equals?

6. Looking good is good for you!
Visually ‘fitting in’ is important. And so is knowing you look your best for any situation, because it sets off an upward spiral of success in which the good feelings we start out with are constantly reinforced by the people around us. Word of warning - be careful about ‘fitting in’ so well that you then become invisible. You don’t have to sacrifice your personal style to look appropriate for your business role. Again – the experts will assist you get it right – for the right reasons.

Although many people take some time out to put an effective business wardrobe together, others are totally baffled about the whole process of dressing for the business week. Sometimes they look good, other times they look as if they didn't make it home for the night and came directly to work. For these people dressing for business is a ‘hit-or-miss’ affair. They inadvertently sabotage themselves by presenting themselves in a way that does not reflect professionalism. You only need to look around you and see that. Remember, if the visual message is incongruent with your verbal message, people will believe what they see before what they hear.

Sure, most of us have never been told how to do this thing called 'dressing oneself'. We pick up skills along the way, noticing and admiring others who dress well and either copy or emulate them to some degree. 

My advise to anyone in sales (and who isn’t?) is: 
· Always dress for integrity - stop sending out inconsistent messages. Make sure you fully support your ambitions and dreams by dressing impeccably.
· Clean out your wardrobe, clean up your life! This means throwing out all those nasty items in your wardrobes that don’t support your ambitions, give them to the cat to have a litter on – and get a life!!

Do this and you will attract not only favourable comment, you will also attract opportunities that could sweep you along your chosen career path.

Finally, if you want to be looked at - and not overlooked, if your want to be seen - and not just part of the scenery, if your want to be noticed - and not given notice.....dress and groom yourself so that your outer appearance fully supports your dreams and aspirations for a better life for yourself and for those you support.

Go ahead – be generous of yourself! And have a resplendent 2005.


By Evelyn Lundström, 
Managing Director of First Impressions Image Consultancy Pty Limited
P O Box 1175 North Sydney NSW 2059 
Ph. 02 9908 1088 Mob. 0408 214 002 
email: evelyn@firstimpressions.com.au
www.firstimpressions.com.au