Is Your Dress Code Giving You Success?
When it comes to establishing a dress code in your business, don’t be put off by resistance.
How did that work for David? Not only did he get the bonus, but his evaluation scores skyrocketed, and his students started to take notice. “They treated me differently, paid attention in class, and asked better questions. In fact, some of the students started dressing for success.” David added that he now prides himself on his dress code and has turned his experiment into research that wins. We could learn a lot from a teacher or an officer of the law when it comes to dress code and why it works. If you’re familiar with military or law enforcement dress codes, the terminology is “command presence.” It’s defined as taking control by appearing to have authority in high-stress or high-traffic situations. This is based on the association with the appearance of authority. You may very well be an expert in your field and well-educated, but your dress code, or lack thereof, eliminates command presence. My friend David says, “It’s not only my job to dress well, but also to teach the importance of that to our young people. It’s not that we’re lazy; we are just put off by resistance. What if they get mad, what if they quit, or what if they leave me? What if they get better, what if they get more deals, or what if you have a culture of winning, not whining?” If your culture needs a wake-up call or simply an end to Flip Flop Day, it starts with a lesson in dressing with command presence. Your clients, prospects, and, more than likely, your employees will thank you for leading the way to dress for success.
Casual Friday has transformed into Jeans and Flip Flops Day. I’m often told, “Dave, you don’t understand; it’s the culture. It’s what people like — they are happier in shorts and a t-shirt.” I will remind you that attitude reflects leadership. You determine the culture and the dress code of your company. My friend David discovered the value of dressing for success at the high school he has been teaching at for nearly two decades in Oregon. “Evaluations and bonuses were being handed out two years ago, and my numbers were consistently lower than the teacher across the hall from me,” David told me, as he broke down his first moment of awareness about how Casual Friday was costing him in the pocketbook. “I’m as good of an educator as this guy, I work as hard, if not harder, than he does. His scores and bonus numbers are higher. What gives?” David mused. All he could detect was that his counterpart dressed in a tie and jacket every day of the school year. But David didn’t get mad — he got better. “For one year, I decided to conduct an experiment. After all, I am a teacher. I purchased new clothes and dressed in a suit every day of the school year.”
Take a
Huckleberry Dessert
BREAK
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup softened butter • 1/4 cup sugar • 1 quart huckleberries • Optional: Nuts
• 24 Large Marshmallows • 1/2 cup milk • 1/4 cup vanilla • 1 cup whipped cream • 16 graham crackers, crushed
Directions
1. In a double boiler, add marshmallows, milk, and vanilla. Let this mixture melt until combined. 2. Remove from heat to let mixture cool and partially set. 3. Fold in whipped cream. 4. In a separate bowl, mix crushed graham crackers, butter, and sugar. 5. Line the bottom of a 9-by-8-inch pan with the graham cracker mixture. 6. Layer half of the whipped mixture, huckleberries, and remaining whipped mixture on top of the graham crackers. 7. Refrigerate until set.
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