DRESS DOWN OR UNDRESS?

Nneka is the Deputy General Manager at a multinational. As a top executive, she is highly intelligent and well respected.

Friday last week, a dress-down day, she arrived at work in leggings, a sheer dress and nice looking flats. However, this was no regular Friday as the Chairman sent in a message that he was on the way to the office for an urgent meeting, having confirmed that the Director General of one of the Federal Parastatals and another foreign client would also be in attendance. This was a meeting that had been long overdue; bordering on the intrigues of a possible merger.

The Managing Director quickly called for an immediate meeting of the key role players and for the first time noticed Nneka’s outfit. She was ordered to delegate her role to her subordinate as she could not represent the organisation at such a high profile meeting looking that way.

Do you think asking Nneka not to show up at such a crucial meeting was unfair?

• Do you exude the finesse, polish and sophistication that befit your status?

• Have you ever attended a high-profile event only to find out you were improperly dressed?

• If you were suddenly called upon to make a random social speech e.g. a toast, how would you fare?

• Does your carriage, body language, diction, vocabulary, speech etc. corroborate your current and futuristic status?

When the organisation says ‘dress down’, does it mean ‘undress your status’ to the point of being mistaken for designations far below yours? It is  possible to be casual and still command respect even from people you’re meeting  for the first time.

The clothes you wear and the way you are groomed will change the way people ‘hear’ what you say. It will subconsciously tell them if you’re like them or different. It will also determine whether they listen or ignore; trust or distrust. It is your prerogative to know how to manage your appearance regardless of what day of the week it is.

The late sage and technocrat, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, said “To be a top notch executive, you have to banish the ‘ko-mean’ syndrome” meaning it is important to develop skills that set you above average.

Play your part!