Psychology of a Professional Image

We communicate with others not only through speaking, but also through our appearance, our body language and our attitude. Within 90 seconds of meeting someone they subconsciously make several very important decisions concerning us — before we even speak. Studies show that 55% of a first impression is formed by our appearance and body language, 38% by our voice and only 7% from how we actually look. Some of those decisions are based upon:

What kind of message are you or your organization sending? On a personal level, we've all been treated well when dressed well and poorly when dressed poorly. This may not be fair but many people never get past that first impression. And speaking of first impressions, that's one reason why it is so important to spend some time learning about what our appropriate Professional Image is and how to most easily achieve it.

When we get up in the mornings, take care of our personal grooming and get dressed for work, we are really dressing not just for ourselves but for our employer, our co-workers, people we come into contact with during the day and, most importantly, ourselves. It's no secret that our appearance affects our feelings about ourselves and others. There is also considerable proof it affects our morale and performance on the job. My attitude definitely is different when I am in sweats versus business wear.

The ideal solution to how to dress professionally is for the employer to set a workable dress code and enforce it or, better yet, to supply apparel they consider suitable for the individual positions. Two examples are Ingenuity Women's Suiting suits/separates for women and Hardwick's Men's Suits & Separates suits/separates for men. Additional information on this subject can be found by clicking on Corporate Uniforms. Our Reflections line offers versatile choices and is also washable. It takes longer to produce as it is cut to order. It includes free basic alterations and a size range of 0 to 34.

One rule of thumb when assessing the psychology of image that has always helped me to prioritize is that I work for money and dress for success, and that in my personal life I work for love and affection. Keeping these two separate is best both professionally and personally.

Our Professional Image does not require we abandon our individuality, but to find our best assets and build on them, while working within guidelines we are aware of in our workplace. We can still take into consideration our own personal style and physical attributes. Each person is unique and can establish a style of dress that is both convenient and affordable. There is a big difference between style and fashion. Style comes from within. Fashion is imposed from without. We have style but we use fashion.

We all have distinct personalities and those come into play in our dress, as well. However, we might need to tone some aspects down in the interest of career advancement, employer dictates and acceptance by our peers. For instance, I have a very dramatic side to my personality but work in a conservative climate. I save my animal prints for casual wear. If you've never really found your style, you might tend to dress too neutral and vague. If people seem to treat you that way, then you may need to begin work on establishing your individual image. We all enjoy looking at a physically beautiful person, and if this person dresses for attention, they will certainly get it. Unfortunately, in many cases they may not get respect for their accomplishments and abilities.

Developing a true image of your corporate best self is what we're talking about. It's especially important if you're a person with high ambitions and a realistic appraisal of the potential of proper dressing for your career. An excellent line for building a Working Wardrobe is Ingenuity for women with washable suits/separates, and Hardwick's Men's Suits & Separates suits/separates for men. Both are in-stock with fast delivery and can be easily exchanged.

One tip!!! When you're down, dress up. There are so many things in life we can't control, but we can control how we look and how we look has a great deal to do with how we feel about ourselves and how others treat us.

Quality in our clothes and accessories speaks volumes and is always a good investment. One good leather belt is worth ten cheap vinyl ones. Two pairs of good leather shoes will replace twenty pairs of impulse buys. Our articles on Building a Working Wardrobe and Shopping with a Mission will help you to save time and money.