Corporate, comfortable and productive

A format long recognised in the more creative corporations is that if people are comfortable and happy they work better.  There has been a movement away from the grey box office spaces, as people spend more time in work, they want a better environment and to be fair deserve one.

Pixar Office Photo: Deputy Dog

 However due to a need to present the 'right' image many companies still feel they can't allow their staff to express themselves through their personal style and trust me I understand their is a good reason for this.  Recently I had a young woman come to me, as she was in need of a suit for an internship, she had been rendered frozen by the induction, in which it was stated, "This isn't a fashion parade, it's finance and you will look professional."  By the time she got to me, I think she had tried on every suit in the South West and rejected them.  Reaching the point where she almost wanted a suit that looked awful to prove how serious she was, tricky.  She understood how to look professional she was a smart girl, but not how to remove 'fashion' from the equation.  I think this is how many people end up sticking to the uniform, for men dark suit and thanks to various tv programs a pastel shirt with assorted degrees of success on the choice of tie, whilst for women dark suit with various degrees of success on the blouse.

Although I very rarely meet people who feel comfortable in a suit or would choose to wear one if given a choice.  So how do you marry the needs of the image that a corporation wants to present, whilst allowing your staff to feel comfortable and therefore possibly increase their production.  The majority of people learn what is appropriate through a series of cultural clues, following others or receiving praise and correction but appropriate doesn't always mean best for you as an individual.  Also telling people they aren't dressed appropriately is both a fine and sticky line, uncomfortable for everyone involved, from necklines that leave nothing to the imagination, skirts that look like they are trying to enter the witness protection scheme, suits that look like they were borrowed out of a van and ties with cartoons on them(I know nobody would make this mistake) but they send the wrong message.

So how do you make sure everyone gets the message right?  So that your staff feel confident and you as the boss aren't wondering what sights you'll see next.  There is an easy answer have someone else do it, by outsourcing you have an instant external bad guy who can illustrate the image you are presenting and the simple adjustments to ensure things improve.  Whilst allowing you distance from the process so that no one feels personally attacked or singled out.