In the professional world, making a good impression is always very
important. I already told you how much you play in the first few seconds of the
first meeting with a new client , colleague or probable employer. Your image
must convey trust and give the right information on who you are, what you do
and how you do it.
In a business meeting, clothing plays a fundamental role and can
facilitate a negotiation, convincing your interlocutor to listen to you and
trust you. Seriously? Yup! Clothing gives information about your professional
role, but also about your personality and your openness to others.
Some examples of important business meetings where clothing is
essential:
·
the first meeting with a new customer
·
a job interview
·
a meeting with important clients of the company
you work in
·
a sector event that is decisive for you or your
company
When you wonder what the right clothing should be for an important
business meeting, think of 2 things:
·
You should dress like people expect a person in
your professional role to dress. Are you a financial advisor? I do not
recommend casual clothing when you receive your customers because you would not
be credible, at least at the beginning: the conventions regarding clothing are
used to understand in a few seconds whether a person is reliable or not. It is
an evolutionary mechanism by which we try to protect ourselves in a potentially
hostile environment.
·
Dressing similarly to your partner stimulates
positive reactions. As a rule, when two people get together for a decisive
meeting they dress in a formal way, to show the interlocutor to give importance
to the interview and to transmit the message of a certain "status".
Imagine meeting a new client and showing up in jeans and a t-shirt
while he shows up in a suit and tie: he will probably feel displaced and you
feel uncomfortable. This can also happen on the contrary, mind you, because
basically there must be a shared vision of the terrain on which the game is
being played.
Are you a music producer who produces records for young groups? Formal
attire is not ideal in your case. If, on the other hand, yours is a very
delicate sector, such as the financial and insurance sector, where customers
really need reassurance, you will have to respect your role and adopt an outfit
in line with your customers' expectations.
Here is the fundamental point: the right clothing for an important
business meeting is one that reflects expectations.
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Does this advice seem limiting
to you?
I understand you, I have often spoken to you about personal branding
and to give personality to your image and then I recommend you wear a
"uniform" as a lawyer or commercial. In reality, respecting the
expectations of an interlocutor with whom we care to make a good impression
does not mean conforming to a click and becoming one of many. Through clothing
you can tell something more about yourself , make yourself remember, make you
love. But the expression of your personality must NEVER be at the expense of
your professionalism: your way of dressing can respect people's expectations
but be unique and personal.
Here are some tips that will help you combine these two needs: convey
trust to a client or employer and express yourself in choosing what you wear.
Choose in advance the look you
will wear
Having time to evaluate different options will allow you to clearly
decide the most appropriate choice. If, on the other hand, you do not give the
right importance to your clothing during an important appointment, you risk
damaging your image and diminishing your chances of success . Furthermore, you
could live waiting for the meeting with much more anxiety if you chose your
look in a hurry. I advise you to define your choice at least a couple of days
before the big meeting. Avoid being reduced to the evening before or the
morning of the appointment for 2 reasons:
if you have in mind to buy something new you need time to visit some
shop and try on clothing that inspires you in peace. Ask a trusted person to
accompany you for an opinion on the outfit you are going to wear, explaining
the type of meeting that awaits you;
the second reason why I advise you to choose in advance the look for
an important business meeting is that if you have decided to wear some already worn
strong piece of your wardrobe you must be sure that it is in perfect condition
and if it is not (because maybe it is ruined or it is not as good as you
remembered) you must have time to fix and implement a plan B.
Choose clothes that make you
feel comfortable
When you hold a meeting it is normal to want to make a good
impression, even at the cost of not being yourself. Maybe in your daily
professional life you are not used to wearing a tie or, if you are a woman, to
use high heels or to wear make-up in a flashy way. I advise against testing a
new look for the first timer an accessory you are not used to wearing during an
important business meeting. In fact, you may not feel comfortable and show an
insecurity that does not depend on your preparation or comparison with the
person in front of you. But this your interlocutor will not know, he will only
see your discomfort and interpret it as a difficulty, perhaps as an inability
to support the discussion or answer his questions. Choose clothing that conforms
to the situation you have to face and, if you want to integrate in your look
some accessories or garments that could give you the right tone but that you
are not used to wearing, try to use it before your important appointment, to
feel at your own comfortable when you wear it. This also applies to a new
hairstyle or a new makeup.
Choose a look similar to that
of your interlocutor
In the professional sphere there is generally a protocol or a dress
code that defines the best clothing for an important meeting, such as a meeting
with a client, a meeting with the members, a convention, etc.
But even more important is knowing how to adapt to the person , or
people, with whom we will meet and understand how we can help them feel
comfortable and trust us. In fact, it does not always make sense to show up in
a jacket and tie on an appointment with a client, especially if the context is
informal. The advice I give you is: think carefully about the reason for the
meeting and what your interlocutor expects from you.
Tell yourself through
accessories and details
You have chosen clothing suited to your profession, with which you
feel confident, you have tried to align yourself with your partner and the
situation, now the time has come to customize your perfect professional look
adding something about you. It is to be assumed, in fact, that there will be
many other aspirants in the place for which you present yourself, or many other
service providers that your potential customer will contact before choosing
with whom to close a contract. Not all but some may have put into practice the
advice I have just given you, making a good first impression. How to stand out
among so many good candidates? Giving personality to your look and making sure
that the person who is evaluating you remembers you forever. The look you
choose is a precious tool through which to bring out your unique style. Do you
know what your style is? Do you like dressing elegant or casual? Are you more
comfortable with high heels or sneakers? Do you love accessories or are you for
a minimalist look? These questions can help you find your style. First define
who you are (or who you want to be) and what message you want to convey
externally. Remember that choosing a unique style can strengthen your personal brand
and during an important business meeting it will be a point in your favor.
How to dress for an appointment
with an important client: practical advice
·
Create contrast between light and dark colors :
a white shirt will stand out better combined with a dark suit.
·
Wear a good quality jacket and your size . This
is not a little detail: if you want to make a good first impression you have to
focus on a few really good clothing items, excellent fabrics and with the right
measurements (a jacket that does not fall perfectly on the shoulders or a
sleeve of the length wrong they are immediately noticed and they make a bad
impression).
·
For footwear too, the issue of quality is a
priority, together with that of cleaning: going to a meeting wearing dirty or
damaged shoes is the first step towards the abyss.
·
Avoid too bright colors, floral motifs,
"demanding" patterns (even if the animal look is fashionable, a
professional context is not the best opportunity to show it off).
·
You can wear jeans to meet a young client or if
you have a meeting in an informal setting. However, opt for a classic model and
absolutely avoid torn or discolored ones. Combining jeans with a nice jacket is
a great choice for an informal but professional look.
·
Use elegant accessories to express your
personality and be careful not to go overboard with accessories: if they steal
your show, you will lose the attention of your interlocutor, who will probably
remember you but not what you said. Virtue is in the middle: find the right
balance to express your personality without it taking away from your
professionalism.
To learn more you can read the article How to dress for a job
interview or a business meeting .
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Final conclusions
Take care of your image by reflecting in your style who you are,
respect the consistency of your message and your goals and it will be easier to
affirm your personal brand.
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