Terrible Dressers & Business Casual Gone Wild...Can Your Professional Appearance Affect Your Paycheck?
Here is another great blog post from my friend Lola Audu. I agree, casual can be appropriate at times, but we need to remember that we are professionals and that our clients are entrusting us with what's usually their most valuable asset and our appearance is a very important part of gaining their trust and confidence. How many times has your attorney showed up in torn blue jeans (because they're cool) or your doctor planning your surgery came into the examining room with sweats and a T-shirt (because they're comfortable?) How comfortable would you feel that you made the best choice, if they did? People used to call me names like "The preacher" or "Reverend", because I usually wear a tie, but someone wise once told me: "Don't lower yourself to other peoples standards, be an example and raise them up to your standards." I don't know if it's because of advise like that, or just because I'm too old and too stubborn to change, but I guess I will just keep doing the best with what I have and try to dress professionally. I can always take off my jacket, loose the tie and roll up my sleeves, but I can't go the opposite direction if I am unprepared. "Casual Friday" is fine, as long as it's still done with common sense. (Thanks Lola!)
When I landed my first administrative job out of college, the dress code was pretty much set in stone. Jeans and flip-flops (you've got to be kidding!) Back then, you wore pantyhose and closed toe shoes even in sweltering 100 degree weather. Suits were the norm if you were going to be taken seriously, and the bared arm or mid-riff was grounds for scandelous stares. Certain things just weren't done.
When I started my real estate career in the mid 90's, the dress code enforcement policy was still very much alive and well. My first company required the wearing of a 'Gold Jacket'. I became adept at finding ways to pair gold inventively with all sorts of things in my closet. But, it didn't stop with your personal appearance, your car was also expected to be neat and free of debris. The broker told us that HIS reputation was on the line. When we left the office to do a transaction, it wasn't just about us...
It's amazing how quickly things change. Within the past 15 years, Casual Friday has morphed into Casual Everyday. Sometimes, I've gone to a Closing and been hard pressed to figure out who was the Realtor® and who was the client. And it had nothing to do with the price range of the home. One wonders if the move to home offices has escalated this trend or if we're simply becoming messier as a society in all aspects of life - homes, dress, cars etc.
The latest edition of Bloomberg Business Week has an article entitled 'The Tragic Decline of Business Casual'. It seems that there is a growing backlash from employers about the extent to which casual dressing has digressed over the past couple of decades in the professional setting. Some companies are now hiring image consultants to teach their employees proper etiquette and how to dress for work.
In the real estate community, our employers are the clients we serve. One can't help but wonder how they perceive this issue when in their workplaces, there is a growing awareness of the need to present a certain appearance in public. After all, when I go to see a doctor, I expect him/her to be clean, well dressed and wearing a white coat. And, I wouldn't trust my money to an accountant who showed up with holes in his jeans. Why do we think that it's OK to present a less than stellar image at times to individuals who are entrusting their real estate agent with the largest financial investment 97% of Americans will ever make?
In Case You Were Wondering...
According to the Bloomberg Business Week article, the Top five Office Fashion Faux Pas are...
1. Hooker Earrings
2. Chest Plumes...as in the open shirt which bares the chest or breast
3. Exposed Bra Straps
4. Toes...yes, as in bare toes even when adorned with a nice pedicure
5. Tattoos...if you have them, cover them up when in a professional setting.
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.
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