Men, Why Your Professional Image in The Workplace Is Important!

Your professional image and your appearance play an important role in your personal brand.

No doubt you are familiar with the well-worn cliché phrase ‘dress to impress’ it’s a phrase that’s been bandied about for years and one that has had more wear than a pair of old boots, but how important is it to look the part in today’s ultra-competitive business world? ‘Look the part, feel that part’ as they say.

In this article we will look at why as a man dressing for success and to impress is important and discuss the impact this can have in your day-today operations.

Let’s get started!

Business attire has changed considerably over the years, particularly in the last fifteen to twenty

Your professional image and your appearance play an important role in your personal brand, your reputation and how you may be perceived in today’s workplace by your managers, colleagues, and the wider business community.

There is a general decline in formality since our society become less formal over the last century. Business attire has changed considerably over the years, particularly in the last fifteen to twenty with many companies preferring to allow employees to dress more casually for comfort and since the numbers of individuals working from home significantly increased during the covid 19 pandemic.

Creative work environments are commonly known for their more relaxed approach when it comes to expected standards of working attire such as graphic design studios. In the corporate world however, companies are more likely to have a stricter dress policy, opting for a dress code that portrays a professional image particularly for those employees that interact with customers, clients, and stakeholders on a day-to-day basis.

It is worth noting in an article published by ‘the home office life’ 89% of employees working in remote roles were opposed to formal dress codes.

You can find some more interesting statistics relating to home working in the UK by following 📊 Working from home statistics UK [Updated June 2022] — The Home Office Life

Your Professional Image in the Workplace Is Important. Here’s Why?

5 top reasons men should dress for success

As someone who takes their dress, and personal and professional image very seriously, I’d like to share with you my top five reasons why men you should dress for success.

1. Increase Your Focus and Productivity

It’s a common theory that people adopt certain characteristics based on their attire. These clothing choices also impact the way in which we perceive and judge each other.

Dressing professionally can create a mindset that can set you up to attack your day, it can increase your focus and lead to greater levels of productivity.

2. Boost Your Confidence levels

When you dress well, you know it, your friends, your colleges know it, your bosses know it, HELL, some might not like it, they might envy you for it, they’re most likely talking about it, but the fact is, it gets you noticed.

So, if you have that all important business meeting with a NEW client or have a presentation coming up with the regional bosses and you want to make a good first impression be sure to get suited and booted. When you look good, you feel good, you’ll be able to bounce into your meetings feeling confident and deliver the goods. No pressure!!

For winning casual wardrobe combinations check out Smart casual work outfits | Men’s Outfit Ideas | Thread or head over to Formal work outfits | Men’s Outfit Ideas | Thread for more formal business dress styles.

3. Creating A Professional Presence

Having a polished, professional image and style forms part of your professional presence and can help you command positive regard. However, it doesn’t stop there, simply dressing well in the workplace isn’t enough, especially if your overall attitude sucks. Your professional presence is a combination of several aspects that include: your manner, your demeanour, how you conduct yourself in the workplace, how you relate to others the skills you exhibit.

Having a strong professional presence generally ensures that you stand out from the crowd and should be a key criterion when developing your personal branding.

4. Be Perceived as A Professional

Dressing and looking the part plays a key role in how you are perceived by others. This will also have an impact on the business that you represent. As an individual you want to be taken seriously and by ensuring that you are suitably attired for all business occasions means you are more likely to be seen as a reliable business professional and taken more seriously.

5. Make A Strong First Impression (7/11 Rule)

Grooming and dress are key here. As they say, ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ Did you know studies show that people make eleven decisions about us in the first seven seconds that they meet, that’s right, eleven. So, choosing the outfit that sends out the right message about you may just ensure that you secure that new business client or land your ideal job.

The way in which you dress says a lot about you as an individual, it reflects your personality, style, and character. So, remember gentlemen when you’re heading into that business meeting, make sure you’ve polished your shoes.