As clothing affects the career

Recent studies have proved that your working clothes affects not only the attitude of other people, but also your ability to concentrate and overall productivity. Exactly how it works, and how to apply it to your career?

It is said that it is necessary to dress as if you are working in the company of their dreams to meet her, and not the place where you are working. Indeed, if your clothes can affect the way you work? Science suggests that, yes.

Two efficiency rules

Previously conducted many studies that prove that the clothing affects the perception of the other person people, but a recent study at Northwestern University in Illinois, proved something quite new.

Researchers Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky found that certain clothing can have a permanent impact on the psychological processes of the one who wears it. The experiment proved that the white coat helps the employee focus, but it must be followed two rules.

For example, if the white coat is defined as a bathrobe lab worker, it helps to increase concentration, and if the white clothes painter - no. In addition, if the gown is a paramedic in the field of human vision, and not put on him, he was as useless to increase the concentration as a painter clothes.

Thus, things affect the concentration level only if they are endowed with symbolic meaning and worn on the person, and not just lying next to him.

Things affect the level of concentration when they are endowed with symbolic meaning and worn on the person.

Of course, sitting in a white coat in the office is, to put it mildly, strange. But you do not have to.

Another study Joey B. Peluchette and Catherine Charles found that people feel more credible, trustworthy, and competent when they dress in a classic business style. When they are dressed in casual, comfortable clothes, or a mixture of the everyday and business style, they feel more friendly.

Does this mean that you should get all of their employees to wear tailored clothes to make them look more competent and reliable? Not necessarily.

It turns out that a strict dress code in a company is not always effective because some workers are spending time and nerves at the thought that their clothes do not fit the dress code. That is, their focus is not on business issues, and then to match the external rules of the company.

Free choice is also difficult

And what about those companies where nobody sets a framework about clothes? Despite this, many people are quite consistent in their choice of work clothes, even if they do not abide by any rules.

Lydia Dishman has conducted a poll on Twitter about the habits of workers, kovorkerov, freelancers and those working from cafes. She asked, "dress up" if they are to work, that is, if their ordinary clothes of working is different. Here are some answers:

@LydiaBreakfast Showered and dressed, even if working from home. A bit better if I'm in the office; have to impress. #NeverPJs#AlwaysPants

- Roger Baker (@SouthJerseyBlu) February 13, 2014

"I Take a shower and get dressed, even when working from home. If you work in an office, I put on a little better. It is necessary to make an impression. "

@LydiaBreakfast Yes, definitely, it helps me feel like it's Work Time and not Sleep / Relax / Play Video Games time - Casey Johnston (@caseyjohnston) February 13, 2014

«Yes, definitely. It helps me feel that now is the time to work, and not to sleep, relax or video games».

@LydiaBreakfast@FastCompany Yes, it sets the tone. I start my day the same if I am going into the office or not. Attitude = Results! - Alex Weremchuk (@aweremchuk) February 13, 2014

"Yes, it sets the tone. I start my day the same, regardless of whether I'm going to the office or not. Ratio = Result! "

@LydiaBreakfast@FastCompany «Tie Thursday» is catching on in our office. I like it - says I made the effort... pic.twitter.com/VnIqPYVI3f - Shawn Mundell (@shawntmundell) February 14, 2014

«Thursday ties "came into vogue in our office. I like"

@LydiaBreakfast@FastCompany I work from home or my local cafe, have done for the last 5 years, I've found I need to wear «work clothes». - Paul Pichugin (@paulmp) February 13, 2014

«I work from home or from a nearby cafe for five years. I realized that I need to wear "work clothes".

Andrew Brown, Director of Public Relations Company Regus, Said that the companies are kovorkery whole range of clothes, from business suits to the ordinary jeans.

His advice echoes the conclusions of the scientists: "What you wear does not affect the productivity, it affects on the state of mind which is created by the clothes. It is important to dress in the clothes in which you feel comfortable. About what fruitful work can be involved, if you are constantly adjusts his clothes, or breathe before to push myself in jeans? "

Clothing does not affect your productivity at it affects your condition, which specifies the clothes.

Brown says that one of the benefits of coworking - is the potential of communication. You can not predict who will be your next transaction may, with the person who sits opposite. So it is necessary to make sure that you look as a potential client or business partner.

"There is a stereotypical image of a freelancer in pajamas and slippers. Sometimes this is the case - says Sara Horowitz, founder and CEO freelancers Union. -Ability to choose what to wear during operation - this is one of the many decisions you have to take when you are - an independent worker. And if your choice of clothing helps you to do more, that's great. "

Sarah Horowitz told me that told her Freelancers Union members. Probably, many freelancers and kovorkery support these words:

You just need to stop for a minute and think about whether you will be comfortable in these clothes to communicate with potential customers. And it does not mean you have to pretend not to themselves. This means intentionally to influence people without even saying a word.