THE TOOLKIT
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We’ve all been told to “dress for success,” but what does that really mean? Does it even mean that much?

The “Threshold Effect” states that first impressions, right or wrong, are made immediately and hard to change. And you might be surprised to learn that clothing choice is one of the more dominant items employers evaluate in new employees. Your clothes imply a lot about you, including taste, judgment, economics, and education. At the same time, you don’t want people to concentrate more on your appearance than on your words. Dress for the occasion and audience, and don’t violate the clothing/grooming standard set by senior executives where you work.

Here’s some additional “dress for success” tips:

• Remove change and keys from your pockets, as they can make distracting noises that detract from your speaking.
• If you have a tendency to play with rings on your fingers, remove them before you speak.
• Glasses tend to make a speaker seem more intelligent and driven, but less warm and personable.
• Dark colors are perceived as more conservative and authoritative.
• Formal dress indicates dominance and control.
• Formal dress certifies the individual as a legitimate representative of the group.
• Formally dressed people have more respect for their personal space.
• High status people can break the rules of dress.
• Conservative dress implies respectability, stability, and trustworthiness.