Mondays with Margaret – The Importance of Professional Dressing

When you have a fantastic weekend (like I just did), it can sometimes be a challenge to get myself up and motivated for Monday mornings. One specific action that always makes the morning dash easier for me is picking out a dynamite outfit for wearing on my first day back in the office the night before. It is my personal opinion you can’t help but feel good when you know you look good. As you all will remember, last Monday, my blog featured Margaret Batting, President of Margaret Batting Image Communications. She has returned today to discuss why what you wear to work is an significant professional decision – not just for Monday mornings but for everyday you are working.

The Importance of Professional Dressing

If you want to move ahead in your career, you’ll need to spend some time learning what it means to dress the part. Let’s face it. Whether we like it or not, our image matters.  It used to be that we had at least 30 seconds to make a favorable first impression.  Now, studies have shown we have about two seconds to make a profound and lasting one. We all make judgments based on information like clothing and body language.  It’s not a bad thing, but it is something that we need to be conscious of doing and realize that others are doing it to us as well.  The good news is we have a choice.  If you dressed yourself today, then you have a choice.  You can choose to dress and act in a manner that is consistent with your personal and professional goals, or you can continue wearing clothes that say you don’t really care and you are not serious about your career.  You are in the driver’s seat!

Keep in mind that your image tells a story, and you want to ensure that it is the story you intend.  If you are serious about your career and you want to get promoted then you need to look polished, poised and prepared for success.  That means your clothes should project professionalism and confidence. They should be consistent with your company’s culture and environment, and they should never be the center of attention.  It is important to dress consistently day to day.  When you try a variety of styles like super casual one day, trendy the next and then a suit the next day, you’re saying  that you are a bit confused.  Others may begin to question your capabilities, and of course, you don’t want that!  It is important to establish a level of consistency.  Plus, you’ll want to be prepared for any big opportunity like being asked to a meeting with senior management or a major client.

Many of my clients feel much more confident after working with me.  They are able to make better choices and feel less stressed about the whole process.  When my clients send me text messages with pictures asking if a certain clothing item is appropriate, I know I have made an impact. I feel lucky to have such a great job! I would love to help more young women feel this confidence each day as they prepare

Regards,

Margaret

As I discussed in my last post, Margaret is offering a 10% discount to all of my readers with the code Styles I Like for her two introductory services. Thank you, Margaret, for your second post! I look forward to your next installment.

Stylishly Yours,

Erin ★

[Looking to stay up-to-date on even more Styles I Like? Follow me on Twitter & Instagram!]

Please Note: This post was sponsored by Margaret Batting Image Communications.