A business casual working environment.
Mark, a 33 year-old senior associate is on track to realize his career dream—to become a shareholder in his CPA firm. In order to ensure this dream becomes a reality, Mark and I would meet regularly to discuss the professional development he must continue to pursue to be an appealing candidate to his business partners.
During one of our coaching sessions, I worked with Mark to refine his elevator pitch so he could communicate to prospects and referral sources what differentiates him from his competition. I encouraged Mark to attend the upcoming meeting of a networking group comprised of other accountants, lawyers, bankers and financial planners, many of whom I knew.
As a visitor, Mark would be given a couple of minutes to introduce himself and his practice. I wished him good luck and told him to check-in with me after the meeting.
The afternoon of the meeting, I was sitting in my office when the phone rang. It was a business contact of mine, Jeffrey, who called to tell me he had met Mark at the networking group. Knowing all the effort Mark and I had spent to refine his elevator pitch, I asked Jeffrey to tell me what he thought of Mark’s introduction. Jeffrey replied by saying, “Mark seems like a nice guy and a capable attorney, but why didn’t he show up in a suit?”
Expecting that the worst Jeffrey could tell me was that Mark was dressed in slacks and polo shirt—after all, it was casual Friday—I replied, “What are you talking about?” To my dismay and total embarrassment Jeffrey said, “Mark wore ill-fitting jeans and a shirt unsuitable for gardening. The guy looked homeless!”
Words could not express my frustration! Was I more irritated with Mark for not wearing a suit or with myself for assuming that he would know that professional clothing is the appropriate option for any business interaction?
Consider this:
- Strong credentials can be overshadowed by a poor visual presentation to those in hiring or referring positions. For our prospects, it’s all about trust and credibility. The reptilian part of our brain tells us to trust what we see more than any other sense. Professionals with strong, personal brands lead with a strong visual presentation.
- Policemen, doctors, chefs, service men and women, trial lawyers, bankers, mail carriers, judges, politicians, and business professionals all wear uniforms. If your appearance isn’t consistent with what others would expect from someone in your profession, your ability and credibility will be questioned.
- If in doubt of your visual presentation, consult a tailor or stylist who can assist you in putting your best foot forward.
Whether we seek employment, advancement, or are looking to build credibility within our industry, we must manage those aspects over which we have total control. Visual presentation is one of them.
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