Dress to Sell

Personal presentation: Dress for business

Personal presentation is very important in the business world, because the presentation often helps you to avoid that feeling of being small and uncompetitive in comparison to the business gurus, the giants of industry and investment dragons (those tycoons may in fact be in debt and about to collapse or on the verge of bankruptcy).  Besides, through personal presentation business people will determine how the world sees them. As the business world looks at you, it only sees what you present. Business people have used personal presentation to develop global brands and expand their fortunes.

The fact is a general rule of business is that people like to do business with people who are already successful. And we all project an image of success through dressing for business.  Making an effort to your appearance also shows that you respect the people you are meeting. Thus for a business situation, a shirt, suit and tie for a man should provide the foundation.  A smart two-piece business suit is good for women, but there are other options too, as long as the outcome is professional and smart. For example, you should not take off your jacket when meeting someone, even if it is a very hot day, unless they do so first. Both sexes should carefully maintain personal grooming, with polished shoes, clean hair, nails manicured, etc.

Dress to sell. Would you rather to have business with this lady or with a man dressed like a tea boy? Photo by Elena

You should pay attention to the finer details, as these will be noticed by others and provide clues to your success. A well-pressed shirt, an elegant watch, a refined pair of shoes will set you above the rest.

However, be careful not to judge other people simply by the clothes they wear. Truly successful wealthy people have no need to conform to norms of wearing business suits.

Hint: A compliment is a powerful way of making people feel good, like you more and be suggestible to whatever you are selling. Whenever you are impressed by something about someone, tell him, don’t just think it. If the person you are talking to seems to fully understand his market, tell him how knowledgeable he is. Anyway, making people good about themselves will mean that they also feel good about you.