When you enter the office, be it for the first time or the hundredth time, people are going to be looking at you. Maybe not staring with their eyes wide open but they will be taking in everything about you. Your hairstyle, outfit, jewellery, posture and whatever else there is to see. You need to look your best at all times. No, this does not mean that you need to drain your bank account by buying new outfits for every occasion. Even something as simple as your bag not matching your outfit can tell onlookers quite a bit about yourself.
Be appropriately dressed
This goes without saying but it is important to be dressed suitably at all times. You can get some great tips on the subject from Runway Daily. If you want to be taken seriously, then wearing clothes so bright that they can be seen from a mile away is not going to help you in any way, shape or form. Observe how the other people in the office dress. Are they more casual or do they always turn to that crisp business suit? Is a simple blouse and skirt acceptable? Discern what is appropriate for you to wear by observing what the masses are wearing. Individuality is important, that can’t be denied, but you also do not want to stick out like a sore thumb or be so muted that people mistake you for office furniture. That means not wearing drab clothes that match the grey printer the office got from Ohana Office Product Net 30.
If you want to be taken seriously and given respect, then you need to look the part. Your clothes do not need to cost an arm and a leg, they just need to be tidy. Make sure your accessories match your outfit. Iron your clothes and clean your shoes. Style your hair in a nice fashion. This way, people will know that you command respect. By appearing professional, you are telling everyone that you are serious about what you do and people will take you seriously.
Make sure to groom yourself
What can be more disgusting or more indicative of bad hygiene than tangled, greasy hair and dirty fingernails? You form an impression the moment someone lays eyes on you. The question is, do you want that to be a positive or negative impression? The way you look plays an important part in that. You can be dressed to the nines in the latest styles and holding the most expensive bag but if your hair is messy and your nails are grimey, then you could be walking around in a garbage bag because dirty and disgusting will be what people think of when they look at you. If people see you using something designed by Ohana Office Product Net 30 with fingernails caked with dirt, they would rather run for the hills than the approach you.
Cut your nails, wash your hair and use a moisturiser on your skin. You do not need to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks. You can do all your self-care by yourself at home and it will not cost much but people who meet you will see you as someone who cares about their appearance and has impeccable grooming skills. When you look good then other people will look at you as someone to be respected rather than someone to run away from when they see you coming. Perfume or cologne can also be a good idea. After all, who wants to stand next to a person with body odour in the elevator just make sure to spray the perfume and not shower in it.
Posture
What do you think when you see someone walking around hunched over with their hands in their pockets? Most people see that as not confident and untrustworthy. Your posture is very important when it comes to looking professional in the workplace. The way you stand, sit and walk can tell a lot about the way you see yourself. People who walk with their chest out and shoulders back project an air of confidence. They are sure of themselves and are not intimidated by other people. This is the best way to appear to others because you always want to appear poised and in control to your superiors.
On the flip side, someone who slouches down keeps their hands in their pockets all the time and does not make eye contact is not really a favourite in the office. It shows that you are not confident in yourself and if that is the case, then why should other people be confident in you. Not being able to make eye contact often makes people think that you have something to hide so they are reluctant to trust you with even small, insignificant things. It is very difficult if your own coworkers do not trust you which makes for a very strained and awkward environment in the workplace.
Smile
Smiling is such a simple action and yet, it can have major consequences. A person who smiles is happy and cheerful. He or she is the person everyone wants to be friends with. You can achieve a lot by smiling. It brightens your day, not to mention other people’s day as well. It shows that you are a kind and sweet individual who is positive and motivated. Who would you rather approach, a person who smiles or someone who is constantly frowning? A smile makes you look easily approachable and more confident. It projects an air of friendliness and makes people want to be friends with you. Even most superiors prefer to give the bigger projects to employees who are cheerful and fun to be around rather than someone who looks miserable all the time. Smiling not only positively affects you but everyone around you as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, everybody wants to be liked at work. They want to have friends and form bonds because these are the people that they are going to be seeing every day for who knows how long. Everything from the way you dress to the way you stand sends a message to those around you. Are you someone who is lazy, dirty and not pleasant to be around or are you a professional who stands tall, commands respect and is a joy to interact with on a daily basis?
