Dress for Success/Business Etiquette

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Dress for Success/Busin ess Etiquette Presented By: David Smith, Jr.

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Dress for Success/Business Etiquette. Presented By: David Smith, Jr. Topics of Discussion. Dressing for success Business Etiquette. Failure to Dress for Success. Letting your family choose your clothing Letting your favorite sales clerk choose your clothing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Dress for Success/Business Etiquette

Page 1: Dress for Success/Business Etiquette

Dress for Success/Business

Etiquette Presented By:

David Smith, Jr.

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Topics of Discussion

Dressing for successBusiness Etiquette

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Failure to Dress for Success Letting your family choose your clothing Letting your favorite sales clerk choose

your clothing Letting your designer choose your clothing Letting an image consultant choose your

clothing Letting your background choose your

clothing

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Environment We are preconditioned by our

environment The clothing we wear is an important

part of that environment It is possible to change your dressing

style People who look successful and well

educated receive better treatment

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Dress For Success

Not only individuals, but industries, professions, specific jobs, geography and climate dictate a natural clothing range that is easily identified through common and business sense

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The Right Clothing will make you look:

Authoritative Powerful Rich Responsible Reliable Friendly

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We all wear uniforms

Uniforms are clear and distinct signs of class (upper middle/lower middle)

Socioeconomic level of our clothing People react to our uniforms accordingly

– I am more important than you– I am your equal– I am not your equal

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Corporate Dress Codes

Most companies have dress codes Many went casual during the 90’s

(business casual) and are starting to return to more formal dressing codes

Clothing styles were too relaxed (Tank Tops, Slippers, etc)

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The Suit

The suit is the single most important garment worn by a business professional

Most expensive Your status, character and abilities are

judge based on your suits Central power garment

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The Business Suit Suits are positive authority symbols,

worn by people who make important decisions in our lives

We are much more likely to believe, respect, and listen to the person who wears a suit than the person who does not

In any level of society, suits are associated with authority, with position, and with power

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Buying a Suit

Decide on: Color, Pattern, Texture, Weight, Material, and Style

Know your approximate size Decide how much you are willing to

spend Buying a suit is a serious, thoughtful

endeavor

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What to look for in a suit Feel the material and know what it is Read the label Look at the stitching behind the collar to

see if it is neat, even and reinforced Examine the lining (interior pockets) Look at the workmanship of the

buttonholes (plastic or bone) Look at the pattern Twist the sleeves of the jacket - should

spring back into shape (final test)

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What material to look for The best material is wool: does not snag;

fits well; does not lose its shape; is resilient; lies better on the body; warmer in winter; outlasts any other fabric

Second-best suit fabric is a polyester and wool blend - general rule is that the more wool the richer looking the material and the better the suit

Avoid any suit made with less than forty-five percent wool

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What color to look for

Blue Gray Beige Brown and shades thereof Black (limited basis)

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What pattern to look for

Solid suits (the best) Rich and soft if they are standard

business suits Two types of stripes are acceptable: a

very narrow vertical pinstripe (white or blue stripes) and chalk stripes - wider about 1/8 inch - tricky (Wall Street)

Plaid (mainly summer suits)

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Psychological Association: Suits

Solid Navy: upper middle class Solid Dark Gray: upper middle class,

negative with lower middle class Dark Blue Pinstripe: upper middle class,

negative with lower middle class Dark Gray Pinstripe: upper middle class,

negative with lower middle class Medium Blue Solid: positive with all

classes

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Psychological Association: Suits

Medium Gray Pinstripe: upper middle class, negative lower middle class

Medium Blue Pinstripe: upper middle class, negative with lower middle class

Light Blue Solid: Positive with both classes

Light Gray Solid: Positive with both classes

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Psychological Associations: Suits

Dark Brown Solid: Positive with both classes

Dark Brown Pinstripe: Positive with both classes

Medium Brown Solid: Positive with both classes

Medium Brown Pinstripe: The only pinstripe suit that tests well with all groups in our society

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Shirts Most common and most acceptable

material is cotton Feels good to wear Soft and smooth Looks very rich Breathes Wrinkles (should dry clean) Second best- blend of cotton & polyester White is the most popular color

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Business Etiquette

The Corporate Culture

The Job Interview

Business Attire

Complimenting dos and don’ts

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Corporate Culture

Success in getting, keeping, and advancing in a job depends 85 percent on “people skills” and only 15 percent on technical knowledge and skills

Critical to know the rules of business etiquette

Relationships in the business world has always been based primarily on rank

The old gender rules have been discarded within the corporate culture

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The Job Interview

The basics of corporate etiquette begin with the job interview - your overall demeanor may have a critical impact on your future

Dress conservatively

Enter the room, smile, and make eye contact with your interviewer. Then wait until you are asked to be seated. Don’t touch anything on their desk. Thank the interviewer.

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Business Attire

Never, ever underestimate the critical importance of attire within the corporate culture

What you wear says a lot about you You can damage or even destroy your chances

of success in business by dressing inappropriately

If your organization has a dress code, observe both the letter and the spirit of the code

If there is no dress code, observe the workplace and and ask your supervisor

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Business Attire

Jewelry: shouldn’t be obtrusive, and it shouldn’t jangle. Avoid wearing rings on the right hand. Wear a watch (promptness counts)

Furs: Don’t wear them in the business world

Shoes: Shine them Briefcases: Keep them polished and clean

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Business Appointments and Functions

Take off your topcoat Give it up or hang it on the back of your

chair - don’t carry it around Keep your suit jacket on in someone

else’s office Don’t scatter things around. Keep files on

your lap. Put your briefcase or handbag on the floor, or keep it on your lap.

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Two Types of Business Functions

Black tie formal: The correct term for “tuxedo” is “dinner jacket.” Black is always correct for men. White jackets are not. Women don’t have to wear gloves, and never should shake hands in them

Informal, or semi-formal: slightly less dressy than black tie. Men should wear a dark business suit, a white shirt, and a dark silk tie with a quiet pattern. Woman should wear a dressy suit in an evening fabric, or a long skirt and blouse

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Introductions General Rule: People of lesser authority are

introduced to persons of greater authority – Ms. CEO , I would like to intro….. A client is introduced first.

Look at and speak to the greater authority first; look at and speak to the lesser authority second

The person who is being introduced, or “presented,” is named last

Include background information

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Introductions

Greetings Upstanding (everyone should stand up

when being introduced) Shaking Hands (firm, not crushing grip)

– Comes with eye contact– Is firm but painless– Lasts about three seconds– Takes only two or three “pumps”– Starts and stops crisply– Doesn’t continue through the entire intro.

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Introductions

Hugs and Kisses: In general, hugs and kisses are inappropriate in any business environment

Touching others in the workplace is impolite - includes patting on the back, arm around someone, or putting your hand on their shoulder

Don’t address someone verbally by a corporate title

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Titles Titles are vitally important In the company of others, show your boss

respect by addressing him or her formally as “Mr.” or “Ms. Smith.”

“Ms.” is the appropriate address for a woman in business, regardless of what she chooses to call herself in her private life. “Mrs.” and “Miss” imply social, marital, and sexual distinctions that have no place in the business arena

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The Workplace

Proper etiquette in the workplace generates efficiency, helps to eliminate distractions, and creates a pleasant environment

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Workplace

Your Co-Workers (relationships) Your Superiors (Respect) Visitors (you are the host when in your

office Visitor should be greeted out in the

reception area Doors: If you reach a door first,

regardless of gender, you should open it, go through it, and hold it to ensure that it doesn’t hit the person following

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Workplace Elevators: If you are nearest the door, you get on the

elevator first, then hold the door until everyone else has entered– If you are near the control panel, ask the others what floor they

need and select those buttons for them

Smoking: Not allowed in most workplaces today

Telephone Etiquette: Speak unto others as you would have them speak unto you - when using the telephone, use your mouth for speaking only. Avoid chewing, eating, or drinking