How
to Dress for Respect
By
Sandy Dumont, Image Consultant
Have
you ever been treated with less respect
than you feel you deserve? Have you
ever been kept waiting unnecessarily?
If you answered “Yes” to
either of these questions, you may be
surprised to learn that it may have
something to do with the image you project.
Believe it or not, the problem may be
that you don’t look important.
In today’s “business casual”
world, we often look more like we’re
ready for a weekend getaway than for
a workday. Think about it—would
you keep a distinguished-looking business
professional waiting? Would you treat
him or her in a disrespectful fashion?
Chances are, you wouldn’t, because
the person looks important. We treat
important people respectfully, even
preferentially.If you want to be treated
like a V.I.P., listen to the words of
an image consultant with 30 years experience:
simply change your image. My clients
report that changing their image results
in dramatic, “overnight”
differences in the way they are treated
at the grocery store, the drugstore
and the hardware store — not just
at the office. They find that they are
suddenly given deferential treatment
and increased respect. In a sense, they
are “noticed” instead of
being treated like “everyone else.”
Want to test out my theory? Here are
the basic ingredients:
- Look
as polished and professional as possible
— from head to toe.
- Messy
hair, in particular, will prevent
you from looking polished and professional.
- Wear
authoritative clothing and colors.
Darker colors give more authority
than pale colors; and stylish-looking
suits immediately suggest clout.
- Women:
wear bolder earrings and other accessories.
But, remember, you want to look like
you are going to a board meeting,
not a bridge game.
- Men:
bring out the “power ties”
— not the pink one or the one
with little pictures of Mickey Mouse
all over it.
- Stand
up straight and tall. Good posture
implies that you are a person of “stature.”
Next time you’re about to venture
out to the grocery store, trade in your
usual jeans and T-shirt for your best
suit and tie — and see what happens.
Going on a business trip? Avoid your
usual comfy jogging attire. Instead,
dress up as if you were going straight
to an important business meeting, and
see what happens. I find that I always
get superb service when I’m “dressed,”
but am easily ignored when I dress for
comfort. Here’s a vivid example:
on a recent overseas flight, I asked
the flight attendant for a glass of
champagne. She advised me that it was
not available in tourist class. Then,
she looked at me again and immediately
reconsidered. She said, “Wait
just a minute. I’ll get you some
from first class.” She then proceeded
to bring me not one, but two, glasses
of champagne! I can only assume she
thought I looked important enough to
have my request fulfilled!So give it
a try. Your new-found status may surprise
you! You may even score a free glass
of champagne, at the very least.You
can learn more at this AMA seminar:
AMA
On-site:
Every one of AMA’s 170+ public
seminars can be delivered on-site. This
flexible, money-saving option allows
you to train ten or more people, when
and where you choose, at a low cost
per participant. Click here
for more information.
Author Bio:
Sandy Dumont is a branding and image
consultant residing in Virginia. She
is also a columnist, frequent TV guest,
speaker and coach, and she has authored
four e-books on the subject of image,
including Tattletale Looks, What
Message Does YOUR Image Send? Visit
her Website at www.TheImageArchitect.com.
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