Some psychological research makes us question our very human existence, whilst other studies make us question the very clothes on our back. Whilst the former topic I will leave to you to ponder in your own time the latter raises a very interesting question when it comes to your events. Clothes, it appears, can alter behaviour and perception in a very real way. But ‘how’ I hear you ask.
The traditional, and perhaps now dated, view is that if you wear formal clothes – suit, tie etc. – then you are more focussed and act more professionally in the workplace. The more formal the clothing, the more professional you are and the better your performance. Some research shows that formal wear makes people think more broadly. It also relies on a theory that it allows you to adjust your psychological approach from social to business.
But in today’s evolving world some would argue that this theory is somewhat archaic in approach. A relaxed dress code at work has also proven to have its benefits. Relaxed dress immediately makes you feel more at ease and increases your comfort; gone are the stiff shirt collars and tight suit trousers and say hello to the comfy t-shirt and stretchy jeans. Research has shown that a more relaxed dress increases social interaction, and isn’t that what almost every event wants – more networking? This social interaction also motivates and keeps people happy.
The flipside would argue that a more relaxed dress would make you too relaxed at work, and therefore less productive. At events you would also battle with the question of ‘do I look professional?’ and therefore ‘do I have credibility?’
In our post-pandemic world where the vast majority of workforces are now home based and are used to wearing their everyday clothes – which everyone sees on video calls anyway – do people really want to dress up for an event?
Google and Facebook have no dress codes for employees. If the above research is to be believed, Google’s relaxed style should mean less productivity. Being one of the most successful companies in the world, this is hard to imagine.
Our policy at Hippo is to ‘wear what you feel comfortable in’ when in the office. Sure, if we have client business meetings, you’ll often see us sporting a Hippo branded top with smart jeans and comfy shoes but we’re not a ‘stiff’ organisation; we’re human, we’re people, and we have personalities, and our dress code reflects that. What perception would you like your event to have? Reflect that in your dress code.
But does the real problem lie in the terminology we use? People’s perception of generic terms, such as ‘smart casual’, differ quite significantly. Whilst one may accept jeans under this term, others may consider this too informal. Shall we now add ‘business formal’ and ‘business casual’ to the mix – when did there become so many terms for work dress? The interpretation of these terms can also be difficult for attendees. Be clear in your expectations when issuing Joining Instructions. Be exact.
Focus on dress codes and appearance at work has become more prevalent in recent years. In 2016 27-year-old Nicola Thorp, a receptionist working as a temp for PWC, was sent home without pay, for refusing to buy and wear heels and instead option for flats. Since then, she launched a petition to change dress code laws so that women have the option to wear formal flat shoes at work, if they wish. The petition reached over 150,000 signatures.
Ok, so that’s a bit of an extreme case, but it does raise an interesting point – does dress code make a difference? Does the way you dress have an impact on your work and/or learning abilities? At your event, does the attire your delegates wear make a difference to their performance?
Taking into account the above debate, if your event objective is to focus on networking perhaps a more relaxed dress code would work better for you? Conversely, if you’re event focusses on business performance maybe a more formal approach would be more appropriate? Also, what is your company office policy? Shouldn’t that be reflected in face-to-face internal events?
Researchers would be the first to admit more studies need to be conducted to reveal the psychological effects of dress codes and performance. Fundamentally though, should it come down to feeling confident in the clothes you are wearing? Confidence affects performance more than any dress code ever will, so should we allow people to wear what they want to events?
The question very much still remains; do we pay enough attention to the dress code? Does dress code really matter? How much is perception an influencing factor in your events’ dress code? And should you even have a dress code at all? Truly, this is only something you can answer based on your organisation’s approach and culture.
One thing is for sure: there’s no right or wrong answer and there’s still a lot of research to be done in this field. I would conduct it myself, however I find myself tight on time in the mornings as I spend too long wondering what to wear.
Hippo offer Event Project Management and Global Venue Finding services. Contact us today on 01372 460 100 or events@hippoevents.co.uk to see how we can assist.