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Does Appearance Count
Social psychologists studying the impact of image have determined that it takes just 30 seconds for someone meeting you to form a list of impressions about your character and abilities. The list includes educational level, career competence and success, personality, level of sophistication, trustworthiness, sense of humor, and social heritage. Should you be judged by what you wear? Perhaps not, but the reality is, of course, that you are judged by what you wear.
Before you speak a word, your clothes have already spoken volumes. The first impression is made in only a few seconds, and may follow you indefinitely. You present your professional polish, competence, and knowledge in a few brief seconds, and then fill in the gaps with words. The professional presence you bring to the business world has tremendous, although unspoken, impact on the business transaction.
Sociolinguist Albert Mehrabian found that in a face-to-face encounter, 7 percent of a verbal message comes from the words used; 38 percent comes from the vocal tone, pacing, and inflection; and 55 percent of the message is transmitted by the speaker’s appearance and body language. Appearance does count, not only in first impressions but also in ongoing interactions.
Be attentive to your total being. Your presence is being observed when you enter the office, go for an interview, enter the boardroom, participate in a videoconference, make a presentation, or socialize with colleagues. Assumptions about your business ability are made on the spot, sometimes based solely upon your appearance and manners, and your product or services may be negatively affected if the client forms unfavorable impressions of you before you even have an opportunity to speak. Remember that you are the product, and you are the sales person advertising the product—you.
Your wardrobe, personal grooming, and body language all serve to create your “personal professional package.” That is, all aspects of who you are—what you wear, how you move, how you look—all work together for your benefit or to your detriment. Each aspect affects how a client or potential client perceives your ability to conduct business professionally. You are the message of your business, and how you dress, walk, speak, write, and interact with people may be all a person sees of your business or company, service or product. You have a responsibility to send the best professional message that you can to be successful.
Clothing should be smart, sharp, conservative, and tailored to fit you well. Hair should be clean and well groomed; shoes cleaned and polished; fingernails cleaned and trimmed; well-brushed teeth and fresh breath; no gum, candy, or other objects should be in your mouth, and of course, no body odor. Although you may not think of yourself as one, you are always a salesperson. You are selling your expertise and business acumen. The way you dress shows respect for yourself, your profession, your associates, your company, and the products or services you offer. Your appearance is your “visual résumé,” and most of all, as a Christian we represent a higher power. We are admonished in Philippians 4:8: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Plan your wardrobe, practice your body language, choose your words with care, and the lasting impression you leave will be positive. May God give us the fortitude, the strength, the self-efficacy, and the courage to make a difference in our appearance.
Lois King, Ph.D., CFLE, writes from Leominster, Massachusetts. |
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