It has been amazing to see how the workplace has evolved over the years. When I started my career, I was expected to wear a suit and tie. The only way I could add some “flair” was to wear either a white or a blue Oxford shirt. Stunning !! I worked for a Fortune 100 company, and formal was the culture from the executive suite to the front line roles in the corporate environment.
In my second role in manufacturing, I was able to stretch the boundaries a bit and wear slacks with a dress shirt. We didn’t wear ties because they could get caught in machinery. The employees on the plant floor wore work pants from a uniform company. We provided the clothing because they soiled every inch of them daily. In two other roles, I was back to ties, dress shirts, and slacks. You could get a bit creative with your tie choice, but not too much. The message of the workplace for the first 20+ years of my career was uniformity and sameness. It was what was seen as the expected norm.
The advent of “casual Friday” was revolutionary !! As companies, we lifted the strict expectations of dress codes to allow (take a deep breath here) – jeans. Only on Friday. Only. Every other day we went back to the corporate wardrobe because, let’s be honest, jeans aren’t professional. Right ???
Most people never pushed back to question the norms of dress. I understand there are some environments where clothing is a safety issue, and I get uniforms too (working in the restaurant industry). This isn’t a call for determining a right or wrong when it comes to attire.
Over the past several years, I decided to push the boundaries. It was overdue and I wanted to see how others would respond. You see, I dig patterns and color. Always have. The years and years when I was expected to wear solid colors and blend in felt restrictive. So, I decided to break out the paisley shirts I have worn while making presentations at HR conferences. I complemented these shirts with jeans every day and Chuck Taylor Converse shoes. The shoes are also a mix of styles and colors.
Once I started wearing the clothes that reflected who I am as a person, I felt like I was finally in my own skin. It may seem to feel like a surface issue, but trust me, it’s not. If people can wear clothing that shows their personality, they’re more likely to perform. There’s one other key to this approach.
No dress code !!
I don’t expect others to don paisley shirts, jeans, or Chuck Taylors. If they wanted to match my choice of style, then fine. However, it’s not necessary. People should be able to express themselves within the norms of their company’s culture. If someone wanted to come in wearing a tie while I have some wild, purple pattern on, then that works.
I’ve worn these shirts so regularly now that if I come to work in a solid shirt, people ask me what’s wrong. I get made fun of and often hear that others would never wear my shirts, and I’m completely cool with that. When others see me in my colorful garments, they know that I’m bringing my entire self to work.
We tell people to bring their entire selves to work if . . .
“Those said selves don’t detract from the norms of professionalism, decorum or allow for any sense of individuality or diversity. Keep people in line because it’s ALWAYS worked.”
Think of how we find ourselves spending our days as HR pros. We end up policing those who are exceptions, and then develop 24 policies for each exception to make sure that everyone stays in their place. At the same time, we want people to thrive and perform. It seems a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it?
This week, decide to add a splash of color. Do what works for you. If it’s through your clothing, excellent. If it’s putting some personal item that has meaning for you out on your workspace, fantastic. Whether it’s a major shift or a minor one, make the change to personalize the culture. Then, let others know they can do it as well. It doesn’t matter whether you work in the field, a manufacturing plant or an office. Allow people to express who they are.
Trust me, it will free you and them to enjoy their work even more. If an exception comes up, then do something radical – Go talk to the person. Let them know the parameters they can move within, and then trust they’ll do the right thing.
I need to go and get my new paisley shirt ready for work. How about you?
