Image management and how it has evolved

CNN reports that in 2010 a national survey conducted by the Centre for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania suggested that the respondents valued appearance second only to “communication skills”. Lizandra Vega, author of “The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want” observes that wearing the week-end plans on “Casual Friday’s” is a very obvious mistake people make.

With the cultural revolution of liberation that made rather revealing outfits and high heels acceptable in the society came another concept called image management. Several image consultants note that wearing a revealing outfit at work immediately projects a signal that the person is trying to grab attention. Such a image as Chris Hauri, founder of Mirror Image, a Chicago-based image and identity consultancy notes that it also conversely impresses that such an image projects that the person is not interested in grabbing attention for her work.

On the matter of shoes it can be observed that a heel is perceived to be uncomfortable. The wearer is immediately perceived as someone who can’t pitch in as a team player because half the time the wearer is distracted in order to maintain her balance. It is of prime importance to refer to the employee manual in case of any doubts. More often than not such issues would be dealt categorically there.