Business Dress and Public Image: At Home and Abroad
Introduction
The first impression you make has a substantial impact on the rest of your business meeting. The dress code forms an initial opinion based on your behavior and appearance before one even speaks. The business dress can be explained as to how one is supposed to be presented able professionally so as keep the status maintained (Zakaria, 2007). Different industries have a different dress code. It is, therefore, great ant to research the proper dress code for the industry one is attending to the business. The public image, on the other hand, is equally essential. It can also be referred to as a professional image. Everybody needs to be professional no matter the profession or organization. It’s recommended that in many organizations wearing of uniforms makes your identity create a very positive impression on those people you meet and to customers. These practices will not only help in business growth abut also maintaining the discipline and proper conduct of the employees within the organization. The report therefore describes the business dress and public image at home and abroad.
Business Dress – At Home
It’s noted that everywhere business people do not show up dressed in shorts, and hoodie. They instead Suit up and dress like the professional they are or the aim to be. Because there is no time for a second chance to make the first impression (Jacobson, 2001). Dress t code is one of the first preparation items for a business meeting. The game brings and popping at the notes are only half of the business readiness equation.
A man is putting on his best look forward, it always comes crisp, clean look from head to toe. The lithe suit, slick tie, shined shoes. Combed hair and channel don draper. Bear in mind that this is all about looks not an act of a Don Draper. Women apply these rules also. The women should be equally conservative, unfettered, basically with a professional look. These often are the best choice for business meeting regardless of one’s gender. A skirt and a blazer do well with blouse instead of double check and dress pants that are too short. Consequently, before one decides on an outfit of any appointment that is dimmed to be professional, the audience should be considered (De Witte, 2003). If one is going to meet locals or people from abroad, the dress code should vary considerably.
Business Dress Code – Abroad
With the trends of internalization and globalization trends, one thinks that business dress around the world will be more or less the same. The truth is that local clothing standards are still very much intact. Few rules are common and will come on one’s next business trip abroad. However, most countries prefer a conservative and neat dress code. The clothing in China, for example, involves style and simplicity in the use of colors. Their colors are black, dark gray or marine blue (Wilkins, and Hill, 2011). These colors can be described to be conservative but comfortable. It’s prohibited for a woman to wear a blouse with low cleavage or high heels. A man is expected to show up in business casual. The Chinese regard the wearing of slim-fit pants, jeans, and t-shit as indecent and therefore it’s highly unacceptable (Boorstin, Daniel, and Vintage, 2012). However, this happens to different business clothing abroad, and each of them has their preference. For one to maintain decency, it is advisable that research on the country one is traveling to on a business trip is taken before the travel date.
Public image- At Home
Public image and professionalism are important no matter our position or organization. The image is then not just someone’s physical appearance alone. It has a lot to do with what someone does and who or what you present. These should, therefore, go hand in hand with how you dress, behave and talk while presenting your views. The image is about the information or the message one passes on to others in a meeting or when interacting with people. The behaviors can be verbal, non-verbal or visual. Dress code changes one’s feeling (Wilkins, and Hill, 2011). When you dress sloppily, even your speech will be sloppy, and this will affect even your posture. Consequently if one feels confidence about the dress code, personal presentation and even the hairstyle and personal presentation, he/she will send a confident and self-possessed message. One’s physical package tells a lot. People make a judgment about your attitude competence and experience. The reaction or the response you get will be will be influenced by these observations and conclusions. These could be either to hire your services or to buy from you. If their involvement with you confirms the initial decision then their action is justified (LaSala, and Nelson 2005).
Public image- Abroad
Creating a professional public image abroad will solely depend on the group one is traveling to for a business meeting. Most of the countries they prefer one to be well groomed. Some even prefer to be uniform. They wear clean, blue uniforms with white floral –print aprons and crisp, clean hats over immaculate. Ladies also wear simple makeup and bright smiles. That is what is meant by a professional image (Wymer and Samu, 2003). In whatever industry, country or job you are in, creating a professional image makes it pleasant and easier for people to work with you and even want to engage in business with you in future. It doesn’t mean that looking professional you have to wear a great suit. What it all means is that the way you dress and behave should present your organization well. Just for instance if you work in an environment industry, you need to be well groomed, clean and smell nice. If one is working on million dollar account, he/she needs to look smart, competent and trustworthy (Karl, Hall, and Peluchette 2013).
Business dress and public image, therefore, means a lot it serves the roadmap to one’s success. The internal consistency plays a part in the image you portray. When the image gives a reflection of whom you are at your best daily, where you are at work, or abroad, this is internal consistency. Values and vision, for one to achieve consistency this virtue is the key. One is supposed to remain focused on what is important for him/her. For instance, if you want to make the best in your career, and what is important to you is quality, this quality will also be reflected in your clothe choice (Dávila, 2008). Communication, the image one projects must be consistent with the speech. These have to do with not only what is spoken and content but also one’s language. If you what you speak is superficial and hollow it will not have a long-lasting impression on people. The image at home and abroad should also present and reflect what you stand for as well as your excellent qualities. If for instance, you are spontaneous and approachable, you will reflect this by more relaxed dressing and yet still come out as smart and professional.
References
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Jacobson, M. F. (2001). Barbarian virtues: The United States encounters foreign peoples at home and abroad, 1876-1917. Macmillan.
Wilkins, M., & Hill, F. E. (2011). American business abroad: Ford on six continents. Cambridge University Press.
Zakaria, F. (2007). The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad (Revised Edition). WW Norton & company.
Boorstin, Daniel J & Vintage, 2012. The image: A guide to pseudo-events in America.
Wilkins, M., & Hill, F. E. (2011). American business abroad: Ford on six continents. Cambridge University Press.
LaSala, K. B., & Nelson, J. (2005). What contributes to professionalism?. Medsurg nursing, 14(1), 63.
Wymer Jr, W. W., & Samu, S. (2003). Dimensions of business and nonprofit collaborative relationships. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 11(1), 3-22.
Karl, K. A., Hall, L. M., & Peluchette, J. V. (2013). City Employee Perceptions of the Impact of Dress and Appearance You Are What You Wear. Public Personnel Management, 42(3), 452-470.
Dávila, A. (2008). Latino spin: Public image and the whitewashing of race. NYU Press.