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Is Your Company Losing Money?

by Dawn Wilson    

The caption reads: Casual Day  It seemed liked a good idea. This is what has happened in the real world. The reality of casual dress in the office today is - it is NOT working!

If casual dress were working in the business world no one would be talking about it. Goodness you cannot turn around and someone is complaining how others are dressed. You walk into a company and the first words are, “Please excuse our office - it’s dress down day.”   Stop - stop right now. If casual dress was working no one would be apologizing or even saying anything.

Can business casual work if done appropriately? Yes, however most people do not know what casual attire is for the office. Why? First of all this is a learned skill we are not taught in school.

How many of you have every taken a course for a whole semester on professional dress?  None because there is no such course. Someday there will be.

If no one taught you how to do your job what would happen?  You would muddle through.  Umm, interesting because that is exactly what most people do when they stand in front of their closet each morning. 

People do not intentionally dress inappropriately. It is because they do not know what to do. Employees need to be taught how just as they are taught how to do their job. Stop trying to bring in casual dress. Instead teach company people the three levels of dress: Power Professional, Professional and Business Casual. Then let them choose how they want to be perceived.

How much money is the company losing? How much more money could the company be making were all employees presenting themselves professional at all times? How much more money could you be making?Dressing professional never works against you. Dressing unprofessional does.

Think about how you feel when you walk into a medical facility and cannot figure out whom the nurse, doctor or patient is because they all look alike. We cannot tell the difference between the corporate executive and the office visitor.  We cannot tell the difference between the customer and the sales clerk in the stores. To clients, there is a comfort in immediately recognizing the professional.  Attire is that powerful communication tool.

Here are three tips for dressing business casual.  The key word is business.

First:    Keep the business casual wardrobe a separate wardrobe. By keeping it a separate wardrobe the mind will be on the job. If clothes are worn on the weekend and then to work the mind is still on the weekend.

Second:  Clothes will stay neater and professional. Let’s face it on the weekend we are not paying attention to keeping our clothes clean. By keeping business casual a separate wardrobe you never have to worry about wearing something to work to find it has a stain or tear.

Third:   You will save money. If an outfit starts to get worn but still has some more wearing left then move it to the weekend attire.

Women always wear hosiery. If the temperature where you live is hot wear lighter materials. Knee-highs can be worn with pants, longer skirts and dresses.

Men always wear socks and make sure your shoes are neat and clean. This is the accessory men and women pay the least attention and is most important.

If you are one of those people who do not feel comfortable in business casual here are tips to be more casual yet highly professional.  Women wear a sweater in place of a silk blouse. Men wear a medium to dark colored shirt in place of a white or light colored shirt.

Women wear a flat professional shoe. Still accessorize and wear basic make up. As soon as women wear pants they become business casual. Wear a trouser style pants or pant suit.

Give serious consideration to how you want others to perceive you and the company. As human beings we get different energies from clothes. You feel different in a suit compared to a casual outfit. When you feel the difference so do the people around you.

Ask yourself this question before you leave for work everyday,  “If a client or guest walked in the office today do I feel totally professional in what I am wearing?”  If everyone in the company cannot answer “yes” then your company is most likely losing money.


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Dawn Waldrop motivates sales professionals to present their best image for financial success. Keynote/half-/full-day programs. Author: Best Impressions, How To Gain Professionalism, Promotion and Profit. Articles: Sales & Marketing, Wall Street Journal, P