While I was preparing to pack for a trip to the west coast, I was reflecting on when and where I would need a suit or sport coat/slacks. A more professional look has seemed to creep into our business calls and interactions. Even “business casual” has taken a new and more upscale look. So: pack a suit, a sport coat, and some nice slacks. Leave the khaki’s and polo’s out this trip.
At that moment of reflection, I began to pay attention to a story on NPR’s Morning Edition, playing on the radio in the background. It was Lucy Callaway from the Financial Times with a report on how businesspeople were “dressing up” their look. Her theory was that most were doing it as a way to “protect themselves in their jobs, and project a more professional look…to protect themselves in their jobs.” (Link to NPR audio story: http://tinyurl.com/kspqbo)
I think it goes a bit further than that. In the last two decades we have worn out the “khaki’s and polo look.” She feels that it all began with the tech start-ups; and although I agree to a certain extent, I think it also had to do with the long rise in productivity and profits in the 90’s. Everyone felt more secure in their jobs and thus more confident overall. We didn’t need business dress to feel professional. We exuded it.
Personally, I have noticed what Lucy says in her piece. Attending the NRA this year, I even commented to several people about how “dressed up and professional” everyone seemed. It made the whole event seem more upbeat. Speaking personally, as a consultant I am always selling myself, so I have tended to dress up my look whenever I might be with clients. (Working from a home office, though…not so much!)
She also points out that email communications seem to be more professional. Perhaps everyone gets their “abbreviated-message jones” off using Twitter. Who knows? Honestly, I think it is driven not only by the general trend toward more professionalism, but by the vast improvements in technology as well. MS Outlook today has tremendous capabilities for logo’s, signature blocks, rich media, etc. As such, we have tended to “polish our prose” to fit the overall look and feel of what we send out.
So what does this all mean? Is there a causal reaction to the recession? Was it reflected during any of the last economic events in the last twenty years? Perhaps the depth of this current recession, combined with the surrounding factors of wavering job security, tougher sales environments, and the shift toward an increased respect for --- and valuation of --- business professionalism is at play.
An interesting thing to ponder. Is it a harbinger of the long term effects we will see in our lives and business dealings, as predicted by the pundits? Or maybe our khaki’s were just in the wash.
"The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows."
-- Aristotle Onassis