So, if you're sitting around writing code then make sure you're the best dressed person in the room. Then on the way to the boardroom for an IPO meeting change into the sweat pants and hoodie.
As a software engineer who actually kinda cares what they look like, I usually end up overdressed for most occasions and when I'm in a proper business meeting I end up being underdressed (because I'm dressed the same).
So I guess I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to?
"An investigationof boundary conditions demonstrates that the positive inferences disappear whenthe observer is unfamiliar with the environment, when the nonconforming behavioris depicted as unintentional, and in the absence of expected norms and sharedstandards of formal conduct"
So if you're dressing that way out of laziness or apathy it doesn't count, you have to be non-conforming on purpose.
I have a very distinct style that is my own. It is done on purpose and I have been known to be late for things because it took me too long to choose what to wear. The style doesn't really conform to anything.
So while I'm not being nonconforming to be nonconforming, I am also particular about what I wear. The only times when my dress is purely a matter of convenience/laziness is when I'm at home or working out.
i think you're reading this wrong. laziness and apathy are intentional; the decision is made not to conform. unintentional noncomformance would be someone who didn't even realize there WAS a standard.
it's like buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you really like them, vs. buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you saw them and thought 'oh hey, sunglasses.' people see the former as the decision of a savvy person, the latter as that of a fool.
What if you are dressing down as a way to be more productive? I mean, you can't work 12 hours straight in a suit and tie, while changing after 8 would lead to inefficiency.
As an aside, has anyone fathomed that some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement?
> some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement
It's all about credibility indicators, and they go both ways.
A founder friend relates a story about the day he gave in and started wearing suits. He has a tech background and is generally averse to display, but noticed that wearing a suit was correlated with shorter meetings. On the flip side, when he dressed casually, there was a longer proving period at the beginning of every meeting where he had to establish credibility in spite appearances / signalling. So, he started bringing a suit along everywhere as a "make meetings shorter" hack.
Pretty sure he plain old enjoys wearing suits at this point though.
In the span of almost 25 years I've had only two jobs where everyone wore a suit and tie to work. While not exactly the most comfortable thing to wear, there was something about formal business attire that seemed to put everyone more or less in a productive frame of mind. For me it was sort of a feeling that "I'm dressed for work, so I should work." A mid-day impromptu game of frisbee was unlikely. It also helped separate work/home life. After work, when you got home, the act of taking off the suit--the uniform of work--was a ritual that signified "I am done working for the day." It was nice. I can't say I really ever enjoyed wearing suits, but they had their benefits.
You can overdress in a way that still makes it super obvious you're not being "dressy". Unconventional accessories are always a good pick.
Like, you can be wearing the nicest of tuxedo pants with the nicest of button-down shirts, but adding just the right hat or scarf magically turns it into a casual outfit.
Agreed. As someone who wears a fedora regularly (actually a black Akubra Hampton), it gets a very different reaction depending on the context. I've been stopped on the street once by someone who said "Cool hat! So you're a Bronie right?" You don't want that.
But when I'm travelling overseas, it gets a much more positive and inquisitive reaction. Many times people have used the hat as an ice-breaker to start an interesting conversation with me. And if you're the only person with a hat in a group, it can be helpful branding so people recognize & remember you.
Interesting. My experience in the US has very much been the latter. What do you typically wear with it? I definitely think it says different things with slacks and a sport coat then jeans and a hoodie.
(If that sounds snarky, most principles of "Game" apply to business. In fact, part of what makes Game so creepy is that it's men applying sales tactics to the early stages of romantic relationships, where that transactional mentality shouldn't apply. Most nerds would do well to develop "work Game".)
Yes, and that's one of the reasons why I used to have very long hair (I'm male) and now shave my head. The status marker is a visible sign that I am comfortable in my position, and further that I am comfortable enough with my abilities that I don't think it will be an impediment to getting another job.
(Another reason was that I liked having long hair, and the few months when I was short-haired before shaving made me unhappy.)
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[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 84.8 ms ] threadSo I guess I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to?
So if you're dressing that way out of laziness or apathy it doesn't count, you have to be non-conforming on purpose.
I have a very distinct style that is my own. It is done on purpose and I have been known to be late for things because it took me too long to choose what to wear. The style doesn't really conform to anything.
So while I'm not being nonconforming to be nonconforming, I am also particular about what I wear. The only times when my dress is purely a matter of convenience/laziness is when I'm at home or working out.
it's like buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you really like them, vs. buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you saw them and thought 'oh hey, sunglasses.' people see the former as the decision of a savvy person, the latter as that of a fool.
As an aside, has anyone fathomed that some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement?
It's all about credibility indicators, and they go both ways.
A founder friend relates a story about the day he gave in and started wearing suits. He has a tech background and is generally averse to display, but noticed that wearing a suit was correlated with shorter meetings. On the flip side, when he dressed casually, there was a longer proving period at the beginning of every meeting where he had to establish credibility in spite appearances / signalling. So, he started bringing a suit along everywhere as a "make meetings shorter" hack.
Pretty sure he plain old enjoys wearing suits at this point though.
Like, you can be wearing the nicest of tuxedo pants with the nicest of button-down shirts, but adding just the right hat or scarf magically turns it into a casual outfit.
"Unconventional accessories are always a good pick" is playing with fire, as is recommending tuxedo pants, a button down, and a hat or scarf.
Have you seen what nerds do when told it's okay to wear hats?
But when I'm travelling overseas, it gets a much more positive and inquisitive reaction. Many times people have used the hat as an ice-breaker to start an interesting conversation with me. And if you're the only person with a hat in a group, it can be helpful branding so people recognize & remember you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGPjUyVtTQw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BjGA7Qs75g
(If that sounds snarky, most principles of "Game" apply to business. In fact, part of what makes Game so creepy is that it's men applying sales tactics to the early stages of romantic relationships, where that transactional mentality shouldn't apply. Most nerds would do well to develop "work Game".)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15z3MU3Zel8
peace up, a-town down
(Another reason was that I liked having long hair, and the few months when I was short-haired before shaving made me unhappy.)