Our company recently had to publish formal dress code standards with associated counseling statements. After working in the business world since 2007, I was shocked at the things people were trying to pass off as professional attire. Sandals which looked like flip flops you can buy at a gas station, t-shirts which appeared to be throw backs to high school days, and even dresses where I asked an employee if she was wearing shorts under her skirt.
I am not saying you need to spend a lot of money or even be formal, but nice pants without rips and a structured shirt go a long way. But… why?
We agonize over fonts and color palettes in slide decks. We review executive summaries line by line. We tweak bullet points in pursuit of clarity and impact. But while we polish our written presentations, we often forget the most important one: ourselves. A cluttered desk, wrinkled shirt, or chaotic office tells a story no title or credential can undo. As a leader, everything about you sends a message. The question is—are you managing that message?
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