We all grew up on the staple wisdom of “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “the meat by its bag”. However, social research states that only 10 per cent of what you communicate is based on words while 90 per cent is non-verbal communication: 30 per cent is attributed to tone of voice and a whopping 60 per cent to body language! Clothes and accessories are probably the first non-verbal cues that sum one up without a single word being said or even eye contact being made.
Are you gadget savvy?
When it comes to power dressing it’s not just about what you carry, but how smartly you demonstrate your comfort with it. Your being gadget savvy or not creates an impression, say corporate executives. Phil Hughes, Managing Director, Sims Recycling, Middle East, says, “I judge others not just by what they carry but why they carry them. If I was to see senior managers with jewellery instead of something that was needed for them to perform their work, I would think they were arrogant idiots and it would cloud all my dealings with them.”
He adds, “Too often I have seen people try and be clever with a gadget and end up looking like fools. Most smartphones now have Google Maps or a navigation system. I am still amazed at how many people are late for appointments and then phone and say ‘I am in Jafza South, where are you?’ We are in Jafza North.”
Mita Srinivasan, Director, Market Buzz, says, “It’s not just about carrying a gadget but making it work for you.” Hughes echoes this sentiment saying, “I don’t believe in a gadget for the sake of one. Personally, I use a Dell Laptop, own an HTC One X smartphone as well as a WD My Passport 500GB portable hard drive and Kingston 8GB memory sticks. These are my mobile office.”
Srinivasan has her must-have list too: “A good quality smartphone and/or tablet that can ensure that you no longer have to say “I need to check my schedule” though you’re welcome to do that if you need to stall for time. A decent storage drive to carry essential information around to a meeting, such as a presentation, and a Bluetooth hands-free connection in the car so that you can use your travel time to catch up with those phone calls you haven’t had the time to return.”
Not a piece of jewellery
She lists her choice of gadgets, demonstrating well that these are not pieces of jewellery for her. “My main smartphone is a BlackBerry Curve Touch 9380. I use the BlackBerry Playbook when I am checking emails. It links to my BlackBerry and no matter where I am, I am no longer dependent on Wi-Fi or 3G and can access all my material.
“I also use the Playbook over Wi-Fi to work on my personal blogs, etc. though I primarily use my Lenovo ThinkPad T400 for this. I also carry with me the HTC One X Android phone to read my news feeds, check on my social media and do a lot of other stuff, such as pay my parking through RTA’s DrivePal app or pay for a sandwich through Beam. For late-night reading and other stuff, I have a Nexus 7 to play with.”
It’s no longer just the clothes, cut and footwear that make that first impression when you walk into a business meeting or sit at the head of the boardroom table. The message on the wall is loud and clear. Work smart to look smart.
