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Gen X and Y: Dress Like a Pro

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IScreen shot 2014-06-04 at 7.52.48 AMn 1978, John T. Malloy wrote the classic book, Dress for Success. The primary message from the book was this: Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. For the younger generations X and Y, think of where you want to take your career, and dress the part.

It was a warm summer day. I entered the corporate headquarters of a highly successful IT company, checked in with the receptionist and waited for the staff person to escort me to the meeting room. Before she arrived, I heard a sound all to common in more casual work environments today: Squeak. Click. Squeak. Click. Squeak. Click. She was wearing – you guessed it – flip flops. She was an attractive young woman, recently graduated from college, with all the potential for dressing professionally.

flip-flopAs I scanned the rest of her attire, I quickly realized she was dressed more for the beach than for the work environment. Her skirt rose about 8 inches above her knees. Her tight top revealed way too much cleavage for 7:30 in the morning. I found myself wondering: How far will this young woman get in her career? Does she not see how other people may perceive her? If she’s not dressing professionally now, will people advance and promote her?

I fully understand that some work environments welcome casual attire. For some, beachwear is completely okay and even encouraged. My first impression of this company, though, fell down a few notches that day. When meeting and greeting people from outside the company, you still want to make a positive first impression. With this young woman, she was impressing me in a certain way, and it wasn’t good. I thought to myself, If I owned this company, I would never allow my employees to greet vendors or clients this way.

There is a very thin line between what is acceptable and what is not acceptable professional attire in the workplace today. I err on the side of conservative. I remind young women that a close-fitting skirt (which most are these days) will creep up an average of three more inches when you sit down. You don’t need to be a math whiz to know where that skirt is going to end up! For young men, I encourage them to either own an iron and learn to iron their clothes or take them to the cleaners each week. Nothing destroys a positive first impression more than a wrinkled shirt and pants on a young man. If you think that the steam from your body as you exit the shower will magically press out the wrinkles in your shirt as you put it onto your body, you’re wrong. Only an iron will do it. So buy one!

With Baby Boomers retiring in great numbers in the years to come, a rather large window is opening up for Generations X and Y to move up the ladder of professional success at a much more rapid rate than we Boomers did. For Gen X: Dress the part and serve as a positive role model for the generation behind you. For Gen Y: Think about where you want to go in your career. Then take a look at your wardrobe. If you’re still dressing like you’re in college, it’s time to upgrade. There is nothing more attractive than young people who take their jobs seriously and dress the part for the career positions they want.

Question: How does your wardrobe position you in your career? Are you dressing like the future leader you want to be?

Baby Boomers: Remain Current and In Style

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DavidByrneSuit

David Byrne’s Big Suit Circa 1980s

As a Baby Boomer, I am becoming increasingly aware of how other people perceive my age group. Seventy-six million strong, Baby Boomers have reshaped the workplace, providing greater opportunities for the generations that follow us. If you are a Baby Boomer and choose to remain in the workplace in the coming years rather than retire, ask yourself: Are you remaining current in your look as a professional? Or are you stuck in the 1980s, still wearing suits with shoulder pads twice the size of your body? If you are, burn them now. Don’t bother donating them to charity because they don’t want them either. It’s time to clean out your closet and update your look. When you remain current and in style, you elevate your level of professionalism.

I recently attended a fun afternoon at a friend’s home, enjoying an image consultant’s presentation. All attendees were asked to bring a favorite jacket or accessory. I chose my favorite robin’s egg blue suit jacket. The little voice inside my head had told me many times that it was outdated, yet, it remained in my closet. Sure enough, I tried it on in front of eight other women and their reaction was clear. “It makes you look old.” Ugh! I then modeled a suit jacket with a more tailored body and shorter cut and voila!…the reaction “WOW! You look fabulous!” resonated throughout the room. I heard the message loud and clear. It’s time to replace the old with the new.

I have seen many Baby Boomers like me in the workplace, wearing clothing that is either outdated or tired looking. The result: The people themselves look outdated. Suits today range in price from affordable $50-$100 new, on sale or at quality resale shops, up to several thousand dollars, depending on your taste (and budget). You can still look like a million dollars with limited funds.

How current are you? Take an afternoon to try on your professional wardrobe in front of a mirror. How does your wardrobe make you look? Youthful? Vibrant? Out of touch? By adding a few fashion forward pieces to your wardrobe each year, including scarves and jewelry for women and new shirts and ties for men, you can take off years from your life.

Now look at your hair style.

Men: If you want to look younger and more attractive, ditch the bad comb-over and shave your head. Yul Brynner started it – shaving his head – in 1951 for the lead role in The King and I and look where it took his acting career. He maintained that look for the rest of his life.

Women: If your hair is big in any way, then it’s stuck in the 80s. Ask your stylist to give you a more current hair cut and style. Do the same with your makeup. What are the current colors? Remember, powder blue eye shadow looked good on Twiggy back in the 1960s (and bright turquoise eye shadow looked good on Mimi on the Drew Carey Show for comic effect only). Ask a professional what make-up complements your coloring.

People will notice the difference in the “new and improved” you. They will most likely ask if you lost weight.

Your outward appearance is one way to demonstrate your level of professionalism. As you mature, remain current in your wardrobe choices so that you look vibrant, vital and stylish. Two questions: What are you doing to enhance your professional look? What simple, inexpensive changes are you making that will help you look more current and in style?

All due respect to David Byrne of the Talking Heads: Nobody wore the “big suit” better than you! I remain a huge fan.

Note: Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964.

 

How Influential Are You?

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RedRibbonCutOxford Dictionary defines influence as: “The effect a person or thing has on another; moral ascendancy or power; a thing or person exercising such power.”

Can a person have power and no influence? Yes. Can a person have influence and no power? No. In order to have influence, you must have the power to make the influence work. Can a person combine power and influence? Yes. This is where the real dynamism happens. Power and influence complement each other when handled with grace. Influential people are those who have the ability to get things done, whether they are doing things themselves or encouraging others to get the work accomplished.

As an influential person, people listen to you, they know you will get the job done beyond your own abilities and you can be trusted. If you want to understand how influential you are, observe how often people ask you to join a committee or task force. When they do make the ask, ask them why they thought of you to serve in that role. Their answer will provide you with some insights on how they perceive your talents or skills. Another way to test how influential you are? Call someone you know and see if s/he will take your call! If you are continuously rerouted to another person, you will know you have little to no influence with that person.

Being influential and using that power is based on what you know (your level of knowledge), who you know (who you are connected to), who they know (who they are connected to) and your style of leadership (how you get things done right and within a reasonable amount of time). Pay attention to who trusts your advice when you share information and make recommendations. That will reveal to you whom you influence.

Ask yourself this question: Who do I currently influence? Who would I like to influence and why?

 

Protect Your Credibility

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ThumbsUpYou will have many opportunities in your life to compromise your credibility. Don’t! The credibility that you enjoy today has taken years to build. Why risk throwing it all away? Protect it. It is one of your greatest assets, built on the foundation of your character and competence.

Credibility is a lifelong commitment.

Business mogul Warren Buffett says, “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” With today’s social media platform, that five minutes quickly morphs into two seconds.

Credibility is one of those intangibles in life that can change dramatically from moment to moment. Within those moments, you will have choices. Credibility first showed up in the national media in the late 1990s ranging from political and religious scandals to corporate and celebrity debacles. Today, the news continues to be filled with people who made poor choices (and who knew better). When we examine any case, it comes down to one thing: Choice. Each leader or organization had a choice to make: the high road or the low road, truth or deception. Always, always take the high road. When you think no one will know or notice, correct yourself then and there. Your conscience will guide your decisions.

In their book, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It, authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner in their research asked professionals how they felt when they were in the presence of truly great leaders. The top ten replies were: Capable. Challenged. Enthusiastic. Inspired. Motivated. Powerful. Proud. Respected. Supported. Valued. Do you believe people feel this way about you? How do you demonstrate your credibility? How does your behavior align with your actions? What could you do to enhance your credibility? In everything you do, choose credibility. You will sleep better at night.

A mantra to consider: “I choose to protect my credibility.”

Beauty: Still In the Eye of the Beholder

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This past weekend, I took my 93-year-old mother, who is an artist, to see artist, poet and former actress Kim Novak at a special public appearance at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Ms. Novak’s gentle spirit, both on the screen and off, is beautifully portrayed today through her exquisite artwork and poetry. Her inner light shines brightly. She graciously posed for photographs with admiring fans and stopped to give autographs. She stood the entire time, despite her age…81.

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My Mom and Kim Novak

As I read her biography, I was inspired by the number of obstacles that she has overcome in her life and her tenacity to adjust and move forward. Two fires destroyed most of her artwork and a nearly complete book manuscript. A diagnosis several decades ago revealed bipolar disorder. Through it all, she adjusted and rebuilt. As I listened to fans talk about her, I heard one consistent message: “She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.” Hearing those comments reminded me of the recent bullying attacks of Donald Trump, the media and the American public about Novak’s recent appearance on the Oscars. Society’s overzealous obsession with beauty and vanity were revealed through nasty social media posts, mostly about Novak’s face. Kim Novak fought back, sending a strong message to Trump and others: Stop bullying. I applaud her for her strength of character.

If more people looked at a person’s true beauty – what they see on the inside and how that person makes them feel – they would understand that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. When you see things only at face value, you miss so much more.

After shaking Kim Novak’s hand and receiving her autograph, my mother smiled exuberantly and began singing “Heaven…I’m in heaven…” Artist to artist, actress to actress, mature woman to mature woman, these two strangers showed to each other mutual respect and admiration. And what a beautiful thing it was to behold.

How can you see the true beauty in others? The answer: Get to know people for who they are on the inside and take the time to understand their story.

How Resourceful Are You?

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arrowsupdownMy parents, who lived through the Great Depression, instilled the value of resourcefulness within me at a very young age. To this day, it is one of my top values. From the time I was a child, I found a way to recycle/repurpose long before it became fashionable. Yet the term takes on a slightly different meaning in the professional world. How can you be resourceful in your work environment?

Resourcefulness in the workplace is vitally important to an organization’s success. The Center for Creative Leadership identified resourcefulness as one of the top five skills a leader must possess in its 2009 study, The Leadership Gap. Within the study, resourcefulness was identified as “working effectively with top management.”

What value has resourcefulness brought to companies and organizations in the past five years? The most recent recession forced many to tighten their belts and be more resourceful, yet, what does that mean? In my opinion, being resourceful at work also includes:

  • Involving key contributors in strategic decisions
  • Honoring organizational priorities
  • Creatively pursuing options and possibilities
  • Including some new voices in the conversation, especially those who are rarely asked or who may get lost within the organization’s hierarchy
  • Knowing where to go for answers
  • Asking tough questions
  • Considering new solutions to age-old problems
  • Engaging workers in the mindset of “sustainability”

Being known at work as someone who is resourceful can position you as a leader who cares about the company, its mission and its people. How can you become more resourceful at work?

 

 

Respect Nature

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water-drop-pearls-on-green-leaves-thumbAs you celebrate Earth Week this week, take a moment to pause and respect nature. Let it inspire you. Nature provides abundant experiences. A wide, expansive sky. Varying cloud formations. A spectacular sunrise. A glowing sunset. Majestic mountains. Roaring oceans. Tranquil lakes. Rushing rivers. Tall trees. Fragrant flowers. Take the time to see, hear, feel, smell, taste and experience what is around you. Nature plays an important role in helping you lead a balanced life.

How do you respect nature? Perhaps it’s the biodegradable packaging made of corn that you buy for the office. Or the eco-friendly detergents you use. Or the simple act of using compost to enrich your garden soil. Or using repurposed wood in a new project. Or reducing the number of plastic garbage bags you fill each week. To me, one of the most important ways to respect nature is to leave as much of the natural environment undisturbed and in tact. Ask yourself, “How do I, or can I, respect nature?”

A colleague of mine recently commented, “I need to take the time to stop and smell the roses.” He was well aware that he needed a break from his busy work schedule. I smiled and reminded him that the roses will be in bloom in June.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about nature:

What is your relationship with nature? How often do you take the time to enjoy it?

How can you incorporate more of nature into your life?

What are your favorite outdoor activities? Do you prefer to hike alone or take a walk in the park with a friend?

When you are working inside, how often do you stop to look outside a window, or take a five-minute break to walk outside, just to clear your mind?

Happy Earth Week. Now get out there!

 

Are You Exactly Where You Need To Be Right Now?

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CompassHave you ever had an amazing experience in your life when you found yourself saying, “I was meant to be here. I am exactly where I need to be right now.” When that happens, you are fully present in that moment, appreciative of the gift that has been given to you.

This past week, I experienced a string of moments just like that, as I repeatedly said to myself, “I am exactly where I need to be right now.”

The first experience was musical. My husband and I heard for the first time an incredible performance by a local band that features a friend of ours. The leader of the band, a talented singer, songwriter and musician, inspired me to tap into my creativity.

The second experience was theatrical. A visiting performance troupe, dog + pony dc created a memorable theatre experience, A Killing Game. While we could have easily left after the program ended, we chose to stay and meet the actors. They motivated me to expand my thinking.

The third experience was inspirational. I met a physically challenged young man who shared his life story of overcoming obstacles and pushing his own limits. His joy inspired me to live my life more fully.

In each of these experiences, I said the same thing to myself, in that moment, “I am exactly where I need to be right now…to be fully present, to hear this message and to learn from this experience.” From each connection, I took away something new, yet there were threads of continuity.

When you are fully present in a moment and you recognize it and cherish it, you are open to receive a deeper message.

Ask yourself, “Am I exactly where I need to be right now?” When you answer yes, then you will appreciate – for that moment – that there is nowhere else that you would rather be.

Be an Experience Creator

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BlondeGirlExcitedOf the many roles that you play in your life, did you know that you can also play the role of Experience Creator? What is an Experience Creator, you ask? Let me create two scenarios for you. Imagine this:

Scenario One: You arrive at the office with your espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You want to get to your desk quickly so you can check to see if the meeting time you requested with the Regional Vice President is a go. You have worked really hard on this project and are eager to share your thoughts with the RVP. All you can think about is your ideas. You are focused on those ideas, almost obsessed about them. You can’t get them out of your head. As you breeze into the office, so focused, and so determined to get to your desk, you don’t hear it, you don’t see it and you don’t experience it: The cheerful “Good morning!” from your department assistant. In fact, every morning you are so focused on what you are thinking that you miss her hellos. That simple “Good morning” that she shares with you every day is her way of being an Experience Creator. An Experience Creator creates a positive, even memorable, experience for other people.

What is the result of your not acknowledging the assistant’s greeting every morning? She thinks you don’t like her. In fact, she shares with one of your co-workers that she thinks you don’t like her. “She adores you,” your co-worker replies. Your co-worker decides to share this important piece of information with you because she thinks it’s something you need to know. She’s right. You are so appreciative that she shared this information with you that you vow to make a change the next day.

Scenario Two: You arrive at the office with your usual espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You pause before you enter the building. You take a deep breath and consciously feel the air entering your body. As you walk, you are aware of everything around you. As you enter your department, you make it a point to stop at your department administrative assistant’s desk, smile and say, “Good morning, Haley!” Now you are the Experience Creator.

Think about the many people who you come in contact with on a daily basis. Customers. Co-workers. Friends. What kind of experience you are creating for them? Is it positive or negative? Are you friendly or guarded? When you remind yourself that you are an Experience Creator, it will completely change how you see others and ultimately how you see yourself. When you create a positive experience for others, it positions you as a professional who cares.

Practice saying this new mantra each day: “I am an Experience Creator!”

Plant a Seed of Hope

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SeedlingWhen was the last time you planted a seed of hope in someone else’s life?

When I was growing up, my dad called me his “Yardbird” because I helped him with outdoor chores. He instilled in me at that early age the knowledge that any seed that is planted can grow into something beautiful when it is nurtured. Every day I watched those seeds grow and change. Every day I hoped to see something new.

Now many years later, as a Master Gardener, I have the privilege of planting seeds of hope in the lives of some individuals who are new to gardening. This year I chose to volunteer with the Cleveland Crops program, a partnership among the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Ohio State University Extension Service, Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County and others. This urban farm program educates, trains and employs individuals with developmental disabilities so they can lead productive lives.

During our first training session last week, we Master Gardeners provided information and answered questions about basic planting and watering techniques. In the coming weeks, we will teach other aspects of gardening to willing participants. When asked if they were excited about the hope of getting involved in gardening, many of the participants enthusiastically said “Yes!”

In the world today, we must remind ourselves to put aside our own needs and focus on others who need our time, attention and expertise. There are individuals within our own communities who simply want a chance, to prove that they can contribute and be part of something greater than just themselves.

Last week, I planted a seed of hope in every person I met. What seeds of hope can you plant in someone else’s life?