Does Clothing at Work Impact Employee Productivity?

The clothing you wear at work may have an impact on your daily productivity levels. If you want to do well on the job, you have to plan your outfits out in a meticulous and careful manner. Failing to do so can often lead to results that are less than desirable.

Businessman wearing business suit

It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of classic mens business suits or more casual and easygoing attire. You have to make sure to dress for success every morning.

Attire impacts productivity

Attire can often influence peoples’ alertness levels. Studies indicate that people may be more alert and vigilant when they’re dressed in less casual manners. If you want to be a sharp and responsive employee every day, it may help you significantly to prioritize work clothing that is far from casual.

There’s no denying the fact that jeans and T-shirts feel comfortable and nice. However, there’s also no denying that they don’t exactly look polished and put together.

If you want to be on top of everything at all times, you should dress the part. Keeping overly casual clothing at bay can make a wise first step for you.

Clothing and moods

Apparel, oddly enough, is often tied to symbolism. If you throw a ragged and tired old T-shirt on in the morning before heading to work, that could communicate something powerful to your mind. That can tell your mind to go into leisure mode.

People frequently create links between clothing and certain moods and feelings. If you’re sporting a pair of jeans, you may not even realize that you’re undermining your work for the day. You may think that you’re doing yourself a favor but that actually couldn’t be further from reality.

Wearing casual and laid-back attire often lends itself to nice and slow days on the beach under the sun. It often isn’t conducive to fast-paced and demanding work environments. That’s the rather blunt truth.

Tweaks allowed

You don’t necessarily have to abandon your sense of style entirely to do well at work every day, however. You can make some slight tweaks that can strengthen your overall productivity. Minor wardrobe changes can frequently make a world of difference.

If you want to dress for success at work, be creative and think outside of the box. You can think about combining elements of outfits in innovative and fresh ways.

If you’re a woman who feels like dressing casually for the day, focus on accessories that may be able to spruce up your appearance a little. Formal footwear may be able to help dramatically. Elegant jewelry, belts and sashes may be able to help as well.

Men who want to dress in a strategic manner while on the job can also follow the same path of logic. They can sport formal shirts alongside custom cufflinks. They can sport formal shirts alongside custom buttons as well. A little effort can sometimes go a long way.

Your goal should be to test new looks out on a routine basis. You should work hard to pinpoint outfit styles that enhance your concentration abilities. If you try on a sleek black suit that makes you feel like you can conquer the world, you’re probably on the correct path.

Company uniform

photo credit: Mike Hoff / Flickr

Uniforms, FTW!

Workplaces that require uniforms are often success stories. That’s because uniforms encourage workers to feel like they’re part of larger overarching units. If you want to feel like a bona fide team player, it may help to work in a setting that requires a uniform.

Uniforms can also help eliminate unnecessary competition at work. If you don’t want to have to deal with a petty coworker who is constantly trying to “outdo” you in the clothing and accessory department, a uniform can be a lifesaver. Since uniforms help do away with these workplace battles, they often give people the chance to concentrate better.

If you want to have full mental clarity at all times, sporting a uniform may do the trick for you. Many workers don’t have this option, however. That’s why they have to take matters into their own hands.

The choices are yours

People all have differing opinions regarding workplace attire and overall productivity. That’s totally natural.

There are some businesses out there that believe that informal apparel is the way to go. They believe that informal clothing fosters productivity. There are also just as many businesses in this world that think in the opposite manner, too.

If you want to thrive in the work world, you have to figure out which apparel style works best for you. No one else can make that decision on your behalf. If you believe wholeheartedly that you concentrate better in more casual attire, that should probably be the approach you take every day. If you believe sincerely that you concentrate better in apparel that’s more formal, that instead should be your approach. Work attire is always a highly personal decision for people.

Takeaway

People can figure out which clothing styles are optimal by taking occasional risks. It can help to try a style approach that you’ve never tested before. Don’t be afraid to be more or less formal than you’ve been in the past. Don’t be afraid to be more or less casual than before, either.

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