| Copyright (c) 2009 Refined Images, LLC | | | | setting. |
| "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing | | | | 4.Business casual dress codes need to be clearly |
| the right things." - Peter F. Drucker | | | | defined in every company. It is widely understood |
| In today's tough economy, leadership is more | | | | that business casual was created so employees could |
| challenging than ever. Creating a productive and | | | | enjoy the freedom of dressing more casually in the |
| effective company entails setting standards and limits. | | | | workplace while remaining professional. This will mean |
| One item that comes up often is image. The | | | | something different for each company. There are |
| professional image of not just your physical | | | | some places of business that see clients infrequently, |
| environment, but the image your staff projects as | | | | and managers can relax the dress code with the |
| well. This is a good time to review the importance of | | | | understanding that when clients are in, everyone |
| presenting a polished company image at every level, | | | | dresses more professionally. It is still important to |
| from CEO to receptionist. Each and every employee | | | | maintain neatness, and to avoid clothing that does |
| will make a statement about your company in how | | | | not enhance productivity and a professional work |
| they present themselves to clients and prospects. | | | | environment. A software design firm may have a |
| Even in this economy, it's possible to project an | | | | very casual dress code, but a revealing blouse or a |
| image that promotes confidence and trust in your | | | | tee with an offensive message hurts productivity and |
| company: | | | | attention to the work at hand. Having simple |
| 1.Create the professional environment and image you | | | | guidelines in place makes it easy for employees to |
| want by setting clear and simple limits for employee | | | | understand what to wear to work. Clothes you |
| dress. A professional image consultant can help you | | | | would wear to the beach, a baseball game, or a |
| set those guidelines and ensure they are appropriate | | | | party are not appropriate for even the most casual |
| to your industry. The way your employees represent | | | | workplace. |
| themselves in the workplace or in the field speaks | | | | 5.Even companies or divisions with internal rather than |
| volumes about your company. Customers and | | | | external customers need to be aware of their image. |
| potential customers make decisions about whom | | | | Departments that dress much more casually, or |
| they want to do business with under the premise | | | | display an abundance of personal wealth, may be a |
| that they are choosing a partner. They are looking | | | | source of envy or discord. Thoughtful attention and a |
| for harmony with your business and signs that you | | | | planned "brand image" displayed for even internal |
| have the same type of work ethic and dedication to | | | | customers makes a big impact. The right image can |
| success. If you can convey this, you have a better | | | | smooth interactions between groups working within |
| chance at securing new business. | | | | the same company, and helps maintain a sense of |
| 2.All companies are different. Some industries are | | | | corporate unity. |
| more casual (i.e., advertising agencies, IT firms, | | | | 6.Additionally, for most companies, it is also prudent |
| entertainment, and creative industries) and some are | | | | to downplay extravagance in the workplace. In this |
| still very formal (banking, law, and pharmaceutical | | | | economy, it's best to not alienate others by |
| firms). IT companies are often very casual work | | | | displaying opulence with dress in the business |
| environments, which means downward limits must be | | | | environment, especially for companies such as |
| set; casual can be professional without being sloppy | | | | financial services or luxury goods firms where they |
| or offensive. An advertising agency may want to | | | | must find just the right tone between projecting |
| encourage a more fashion-forward dress code to | | | | success and avoiding ostentation. |
| emphasize their creativity and youthful drive. A | | | | The image you and your employees present at work |
| financial services firm will want a more conservative | | | | affects your success at a very basic level: A client or |
| dress code, and to warn employees against displaying | | | | potential client looks at everyone he or she comes |
| too much affluence to potential clients in this | | | | into contact with and thinks, "Do I want to work |
| economy. When employees understand how their | | | | with this person? Do I want to work with this |
| professional image can affect their careers and the | | | | company?" Your employee image and your company |
| company's success, they can begin to take | | | | image can make a client feel comfortable, confident, |
| ownership of that image and take pride in it. | | | | and welcome. Today, more than ever, every |
| 3.Regardless of industry, neatness counts. Whether | | | | advantage you garner can make a difference in |
| you're wearing jeans or a suit, make sure that they | | | | whether you and your company succeed and thrive. |
| are clean, wrinkle free and appropriate for the | | | | |