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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