For Personnel Reasons: Dilemmas and Advice on Business Relationships March 16, 2009

March 20, 2009 by Rita Marshall 

Seeing is Believing, or Not Believing and Kicking You Out of a Business Meeting

Josh, a successful high-end real estate agent in his 20s, heads to a client’s house to discuss a multi-million-dollar deal. He is wearing a tracksuit (complete with stains), a headband and sunglasses. The client kicks him out of their meeting. Josh can’t understand what just happened to this business relationship. Can you?

This happened in an episode of one of my favourite guilty pleasures, the real estate reality show Million Dollar Listing (Bravo and HGTV). Two out of three of these upscale LA real estate agents try to demonstrate their uniqueness by being as “creative” or non-conformist with their appearance as possible. Josh believes he is so good at his job he can afford to be scruffy (and wear sweatpants). Chad instills client confidence by shaping his hair like a giant olive, and fussing with it constantly. Only Madison trusts a mostly professional wardrobe (it is LA) and his gleaming teeth to carry him through business dealings.

Are You Too Creative or Too Housebound to Dress Professionally?

It’s not just Beverly Hills real estate agents, though. Designers, writers, photographers and many other “creatives” sometimes also feel dressing professionally or conservatively dampens their overall brand. To be fair, when you want clients to think of you as wildly creative, looking like a banker doesn’t help. But do you know where to draw the line?

Sometimes small business owners who work from home with clients they never meet face to face don’t feel the need for a professional, business-like appearance. One copywriter brags on her website that she works in her pyjamas. Even if you had the best of intentions to dress professionally at home, the slide down to pyjama pants and sweatshirts is a slippery one. Are you able to turn it around and look your best when a client does request a face-to-face meeting?

Some Blunt Advice

For Amy Elizabeth Casson, president of Polished Image, generational difference also played a role in Josh’s clothing fiasco. Read her blunt advice to potential Josh copycats here. The truth is, your personal appearance does affect your business relationships.

Photo by Versalogic