How's work?
Boring? Nothing new?
Well…
Some of you guys may be keen on getting:
- That long overdue promotion
- Investors for your startup
- More sales/deals closed
If you're one of them, take my advice:
Focus on style first – it can mean a huge paycheck later!
Why?
Would you rather do business with…
1. A guy wearing a baseball cap & jeans in his office?
2. A guy who looks like he came out of Wall Street?
It's a no-brainer – most of us have a preference for the professional image.
So that's where style comes into play.
Reason #1 – Gaining Self-Confidence
By dressing like a pro…you're also letting more confidence kick in. It signals how you see yourself in your career life.
Think of your long-term goals. Learn to visualize what it's like being the next CEO, or the most well-respected doctor in town. And that will guide you in dressing your way toward reaching those future goals.
Here's what great about visualization. It activates the same parts of the brain that are active when you're physically doing the visualized thing.
For example, there's one Harvard study that compared two groups of piano players. One group would be playing on actual pianos while the other would be doing it mentally.
The results? Both groups experienced the exact same changes in the brain's motor parts!
So likewise, if you dress like you just got a promotion or scored a multimillion-dollar deal – it helps you visualize your goal and get closer to it. And that will naturally bring out more self-confidence every day.
#2 – Grabbing Attention
A lot of successful people on this planet don't get to where they are without standing out.
You'll never know who among those noticing you might be your ticket to the next level – or who among them knows someone who might.
That's why you have to create an appropriate professional image…and own it. Others will be able to tell if you do. And they'll be inclined to strike up a conversation.
So when I go to events with a casual dress code, I don't mind wearing a jacket to dress one step higher than everybody. It doesn't turn people off – I actually grab more positive attention. I get to show how the outfit represents my brand and my line of work.
But don't limit your options to jackets and suits. Remember that you can also spice up your professional image using eyeglasses, dress watches, classic hats, unique necktie knots and other accessories.
#3 – Making A Great First Impression
If you still think at your age that people don't judge books by their covers…I'm afraid you need a reality check.
Without a nice “cover” you'll never make an impact on first impressions. Your clothes can sway people into judging you based on certain emotions or biases.
You may be a cool guy or a smart individual, but professionals at a networking event will never find that out if your shoes are dirty or your suit looks like a hand-me-down.
Speaking of suits – have you considered buying a bespoke or custom-made suit for those important occasions?
A past study has revealed that most people from social networking sites in the corporate world view men wearing bespoke suits as having (1) more money and (2) a more favorable personality than men in off-the-peg suits.
So that's some food for thought.
#4 – Showing Authority
You know how the lion is always shown as the leader of all animals? It has something to do with displaying its powerful body, its mane, and its roar.
Animals see those as signals of dominance and authority. But for humans – those signals come in the form of quality business suits or other high-level clothes.
So that's what you should save up a little more cash for. Good choices of clothing will compel others to treat you better. Like you're really worth trusting or doing business with.
A guy named Neil Patel knows that for a fact. He actually spent $160,000 on clothes to eventually make $700K! He realized how dressing more like a rich and successful man – with better shirts, neckties, belts, briefcases, and shoes – could help him close more sales.
And he didn't change anything else during meetings (not even his presentation). Prospective clients took him seriously…simply because of how he looked.
#5 – Showing Status
When you come across as a man of authority – it can also mean you're showing great status. Especially to your peers at networking events or conferences.
If you combine the right clothing, body language, and conversational skills…you can expect others to think of you quite highly.
Some may even spoil you with VIP treatment to match the status you're perceived with. That's what Neil got after doing some small talk with basketball players while shopping in Beverly Hills.
One of them asked for Neil's contact details – and that led to way more than a couple of texts and interesting offers. He was handed free NBA All-Star tickets (worth $4K) at one point!
#6 – Looking More Competent
You can talk the talk. You can present a killer résumé. You can brag about stars in your industry who'd recommend you to companies.
But to look more competent…you ought to go beyond that. You must listen well, ask intelligent questions, act level-headed, and dress like you're 100% right for the job.
Take it from this study in the UK – in which people rated different photos of men who:
• Wore either a suit or a sweat-shirt together with track pants
• Held “cool”, “neutral” or “weak” poses
The participants gave ratings in terms of the man's overall competence (including earning power and trustworthiness). And it turned out:
- The men with suits were thought to be more competent than those in casual wear
- “Cool” and “neutral” poses were linked with more competence – but men who both dressed in a suit and held a “neutral” (normal) pose were viewed as most competent
So that's the power of looking sharp. It can portray competence and other desirable traits. And you don't have to do anything else besides being natural and professional.
#7 – Matching Expectations
Whether you're a doctor, a lawyer or a financial adviser – the fact that you serve people directly means first-time customers will have certain expectations with you. And you can't blame them. They're paying good money. They're taking a chance on you and your expertise.
That is what's fascinating about this study on doctors in England. Researchers wanted to see if patients would more likely open up about their illnesses/symptoms to a casual-dressed doctor (white t-shirt and jeans) versus a normal-dressed one (white coat and black trousers).
In the end, the casual-dressed doctors in pictures were considered the least friendly and credible.
So your clothing needs to validate people's assumptions and confirm their positive bias. It's a way of reassuring them that they (or their business) are in great hands.
#8 – Better Negotiating Skills
Let's say a broker was trying to sell you a house. Would you be less prone to backing down during a negotiation by dressing well – like from a higher social class?
Well…that's what researchers at Yale School of Management wanted to find out. They brought in men with various backgrounds, levels of income, and ages between 18 and 32 to play the role of a buyer or seller of a factory.
Some of those playing the “buyer” wore a full business attire while others wore t-shirts, sweatpants, and sandals.
Those playing the “seller” would stick to the same clothes they came in. And due to the wardrobe differences – the buyers who suited up would score the biggest profits from the mock negotiation.
Those buyers were less willing to yield than the ones in casual wear. And the reason might be related to feelings of respect, power, and intimidation they gained by dressing “above” the seller. So take note of this for any future negotiations.
#9 – Better Abstract Thinking
Clothing also improves abstract thinking. This pertains to your ability to see the “big picture” (how all the parts contribute to a whole entity or system). And that's a big deal when you're managing others – which explains why people who run large companies prefer formal wear.
So when researchers from Columbia University and California State University did a study on students (with varied socioeconomic statuses) – they had them take a test on abstract thinking while wearing the clothes they had on.
The results showed that the more formal the attire, the more they excelled at abstract thinking. Their social class had no bearing on their performance.
#10 – Being More Memorable
Don't forget the value of lasting impressions – ending strong when it comes to a meeting or encounter.
Even if you were silent most of the time, there's a lot to be said about a man who pays attention to details like his collar shape, pocket square fold, etc. They're subtle but sure-fire ways to make potential business connections remember you well.
For more ways to improve your financial standing, click here to discover 21 money saving tips.
