“Clothes make the man,” Mark Twain said, adding, “Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

Appearance Influences Credibility

I Shaved My Head

The reactions have been... interesting.

How much do you think your appearance influences how others perceive your credibility and authority?

Shaving my head has elicited responses that reinforce my belief:

Appearance shapes credibility faster than words.

Be the Best Dressed

Sylvia Ann Hewlett's research 🔬 found that #appearance accounts for 5% of perceived Executive Presence, but some previous research 🔬 suggests VISUAL First Impressions may account for up to 55%, and keep in mind that, when climbing a ladder, Promotion Potential research 🔬 weighs appearance at 26%.

Appearance frames perception —> Perception shapes opportunity.

Sharp and Put-Together

I once hired a fashion consultant who spoke about clothing the way a chef talks about salt. Clothing began to make sense. Structure changes posture. Texture reflects light differently. Fitted versus relaxed became less about trend and more about intention.

To be candid, someone once described my style as “European-REI,” which I accepted as both compliment and gentle warning. It's comfortable, that's enough, right?

Last week, I attended a meeting in which a suit was expected. Expected! Keep in mind, I wear a suit ONLY when it’s expected. In my ideal world, it is never expected. Then, 10 minutes into the meeting, I was ready to run out and buy a dozen suits so I could always walk around looking that sharp among people looking that put-together.

“Sharp,” “Put together”, how do you describe the ones whose appearance seems worth commenting on?

Appearance frames perception —> Perception shapes opportunity.

You Do You

“The most attractive 'look' is always the most authentic one.” Molly Bingaman, Stylist

Every organization has a dress culture and sometimes code. My goal is to aim above average, fit within the culture, and look my best.

When I dress intentionally, whether in person or even on virtual, something internal quiets down. The small, nagging questions about whether I look credible enough simply stop. When my appearance aligns with the moment, my focus deepens, and the work that follows feels more valuable.

Early in my career, I was given the challenge to be the “best dressed in the room.” At the time, I was working with a coach who candidly told me I did not look like someone who was “camera-ready.” Burn.

Best dressed, well-groomed, put-together... how would others describe you?

Appearance frames INTERNAL perception —> Perception shapes opportunity.

Camera Ready

Appearance is only a small percentage of the presence we project. However, it will often serve as a first impression that others will use in measuring the value of your message.

Try this: Do one intentional thing to your appearance each day. Noticed how you feel, how others respond. Make a study of what happens next.

Funny enough, I just had new headshots done for my book, which comes out in October, but I may keep the shave for a while. Heck of a whole lot less maintenance!