EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne has a strict dress code for its students and encourages them to dress as they would in a professional context. According to the code, one's appearance, attitude, and behavior can have a big impact on how they are perceived. This is not only applicable to the hospitality industry, as research from Temple University has revealed that when people feel good about how they look, but they also tend to perform better in their work. This is because of three aspects of our clothing — aesthetics, conformity, and uniqueness — that have an effect on our self-image.
Research has revealed that our choice of clothing has an impact on our personal attractiveness, our sense of belonging, and our self-esteem. To further understand this phenomenon, a study involving desk-based employees from South Korean companies was conducted over a 10-day period. Employees filled out three questionnaires on their attire, interactions with colleagues, and their level of productivity at the end of the day. The results showed that when the employees felt confident in their clothing and it had some element of uniqueness, it led to enhanced self-esteem, resulting in higher productivity and goal achievement. Additionally, fitting in with the office culture through clothing had a positive effect, but only when employees interacted with each other during the day. The impact of clothing on our behavior is significant, although minor, and managers should consider educating their employees on the connection between clothing and self-esteem and its effect on their performance in the workplace. This could even involve providing branded clothing that is well-styled for their employees.
Research has revealed that our choice of clothing has an impact on our personal attractiveness, our sense of belonging, and our self-esteem. To further understand this phenomenon, a study involving desk-based employees from South Korean companies was conducted over a 10-day period. Employees filled out three questionnaires on their attire, interactions with colleagues, and their level of productivity at the end of the day. The results showed that when the employees felt confident in their clothing and it had some element of uniqueness, it led to enhanced self-esteem, resulting in higher productivity and goal achievement. Additionally, fitting in with the office culture through clothing had a positive effect, but only when employees interacted with each other during the day. The impact of clothing on our behavior is significant, although minor, and managers should consider educating their employees on the connection between clothing and self-esteem and its effect on their performance in the workplace. This could even involve providing branded clothing that is well-styled for their employees.