Chapter 19: No Sucking Up – Look & Be the Part…

Many people are fond of saying “dress for success.” This phrase has become very clich√© and even trite, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. Of course how you dress is only a part of what makes you promoteable. We will take a quick look at the influence your appearance can have on your status and then discuss a few other character revealing behaviors that can also have an impact on your success.

Dress Wisely
It really is simple and straightforward. Dress and groom yourself at or near the same level as your potential promoter.
Whether you work in an office or a factory you should dress in a way that shows you care about your company. I wouldn’t encourage you to wear a tie or a formal dress in a casual office because you might be seen as an outsider. On the other hand, you would do well to stay on the higher end of casual commonly known as “Office Casual.”
On a shop floor, dressing for success may just be regularly washing coveralls or mending clothing that is torn. When it’s time for meetings in more formal areas of your company, it may be completely appropriate to change into a nicer shirt and lose the coveralls for a while.
A little common sense goes a long way when dressing appropriately at work. Basic dress & grooming standards, if applied, can most definitely help you be seen as a promoteable person. If you fail to meet the standards of your would-be peers or bosses, you risk coming up short in their evaluations. It really is a “better safe than sorry” situation.
One good way to think of your personal dress code is to imagine an important customer visiting you in your work area. No matter where you work, you will want to show them that you are appropriately outfitted for the job you are doing. Whether that is a suit and tie, a dress, or a hard hat and all the needed safety gear, it should reflect your highest standards. A true professional is usually very easy to spot. Your customers should be at least a little impressed with the pride you take in yourself and especially your company. Slovenly or lazy dressers show a certain amount of disrespect for themselves and their companies. This is an enormous turn-off to customers and bosses alike.
Frankly, I like wearing shorts and a comfortable t-shirt whenever I can get away with it. I wouldn’t dream of showing up on the jobsite this way. I would lose all credibility with my customers. If you want to stand out regarding your personal dress code, just make sure to err on the side of classy and professional. Normally that will elevate your status even if more casual attire is common.
Quite literally, I have seen people not get promoted or even be taken seriously because of the clothes they wore. Outrageous hair styles, blatant piercings or tattoos, and the like, can be very distracting. Like it or not, many bosses are sensitive to these types of non-traditional (at least concerning company standards,) types of displays. They worry about what co-workers think and especially what customers will think. Customers keep companies in business, after all.
I also know of people who remove jewelry before work and put it back on later. This may be a reasonable consideration for you. Other people wear long sleeves to cover gaudy or obscene tattoos. Revealing or seductive clothing should never be worn. This mistake will sap your credibility and trustworthiness very quickly. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, but it does create an image that is not very promoteable.
In the end, you should wear clothes, hairstyles, and jewelry that match or slightly exceed the standards in your company; nothing too outrageous or too far out from the norm. People need to feel comfortable with you and you need to “look like” the position you will someday fill. It’s not worth jeopardizing your career and promoteability to make a fashion statement.
This can be such a serious deterrent to some people that it really bears mentioning. If you have all the other pieces in place but fall short on this essential standard you can, and likely will, be completely discounted as I have witnessed on several occasions.
The Words You Use
If you swear like a sailor at home or outside of work, that is your business and probably won’t cause you problems at your job. If you use profane language and tell vulgar or racist jokes and stories at work, however, there is a very good chance you will be seen as more of a liability than a potential leader. It really doesn’t matter if “everybody does it.” Leaders and those seeking promotions need to stay far away from this type of behavior and help discourage rather than participate in it, and risk degrading themselves or losing credibility.
Even common and non-vulgar “street slang” terms can lower your status in the eyes of others. Of course we don’t have to be robots and all talk the same way, but just like you dress in appropriate ways to reflect the culture of your company, you need to speak in a way that also reflects that culture. Since you are seeking promotions you especially need to be mindful of the words you choose. Improving your vocabulary through reading and vocabulary building exercises, software, CD’s, and books is a very worthwhile undertaking.
Manners
It is always a good practice to use the good manners your mother taught you! If your mother didn’t teach you then you really need to learn some manners soon.
Please and thank you really do make this world go’ round in many ways. Use them liberally and others will generally use them likewise with you. It really makes for a much better work experience when people are gracious and pleasant. Good manners are a direct reflection of how you treat and respect others. Because good manners show your level of consideration for others, they should not be taken lightly. Most, (definitely not all,) great leaders I have known are among the first to say please and thank you, and show proper respect to their subordinates.
Hygiene
Some folks really miss the boat on this essential part of being around other people. Although it is almost inconceivable to most people that they would go to work smelling bad or with disheveled, dirty hair or clothing, some people need a little reminder.
One gentleman had a terrible B.O. (body odor) problem and seemed to be clueless. Some of his colleagues decided to put some basic toiletries in his locker to help him figure out the problem. To his great embarrassment, they anonymously loaded his locker with deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, tooth paste, mouth wash, cologne, and the like.
He got the hint, but it was embarrassing and stressful to everyone involved. If you suspect you might have even the slightest problem with hygiene, you should err on the side of smelling and looking great before the next co-worker offers you a tic tac.
Health & Fitness
It’s almost taboo to say anything about this subject but it is important so I will risk it. There are people who will discriminate against you if you are obese. I am fairly certain I have witnessed people not be considered for promotions because they were very overweight. It was a shame, but proving that was the reason they weren’t promoted would have been very difficult.
There are many negative stereotypes about people who are heavy; we all know them so I won’t get into that. Hopefully you will not be subjected to discrimination in this form, but let’s face it, people are people, and they carry many biases around with them all the time.
It is especially true that managers and people in other elevated positions of responsibility are expected to “look the part.” The “part” typically includes being physically fit as well as nicely groomed and dressed. If your would-be promoter cannot imagine you “looking the part” they may not be able to imagine you in that role. In a word, get fit, stay fit, and be fit. It’s for your own good anyway and will be one more item in your favor as the entire package, that is you, is evaluated for promotions. That’s my best advice based on years of experience, not a suggestion that a heavy person has any less value than a fit person.
Along with being fit is taking care of your health. Occasionally I will become aware of people who are good employees, but are chronically ill due to no fault of their own. Frankly, bosses are slow to promote people with health problems because they fear they will not be reliable on the job.
If you miss a lot of work due to health problems, check in with your doctor and try to fix all that you can. You’ll feel better, take fewer sick days, and have more energy to excel in your position. A doctor visit is much cheaper than missing out on a promotion.
Listen, I don’t make the biases, but I do recognize them. This guide is all about giving you every advantage to win promotions, so I have to point these things out for your potential benefit.
Again, having witnessed people being affected by these problems, I am particularly sensitive to the negative consequences these folks have endured. I have spent some time counseling people to adjust their dress standards, off-color language, and other distracters so they could be taken seriously. Some took my advice and some didn’t. Stubbornness, resistance to change, and not wanting to conform could be your downfall.
Chapter 19 Summary Points

• Just as the old saying goes “Dress for Success.” Basically, you need to look like the position you want to hold.
• Show customers your respect for them and your company by dressing professionally in every setting.
• Remove “extreme” jewelry and cover gaudy tattoos if possible while at work.
• Speak without using profanity or street slang terms. Increase your vocabulary to enable you to speak with other professionals in your field.
• Use good manners and show respect to others in all you say and do.
• Practice the very best hygiene habits and maintain a pleasant appearance and odor.
• Try to remain or become physically fit and in good health.
• You can still be an individual, but should conform to established company standards to be seen as a potential leader.

Bill Hanover is author of “No Sucking-Up! How to Win the Job Promotions You Deserve” and a Lean Manufacturing Consultant. You may learn more about “No Sucking-Up” at www.nosuckingup.com or Bill’s consulting services at www.tpslean.com