Looking the Part

Sometimes it's interesting to see a person who goes against type. A banker who looks like a Hell's Angel might have a certain appeal, although no doubt limited. Most of the time in the business world, we want a person's appearance to reassure us by reinforcing the sense that we are in good hands.

I recently checked in at a hotel where the people behind the front desk were so strangely dressed that I half-expected to see the shoes of an unconscious desk clerk protruding from under the counter. They were friendly enough, but a walking example of why uniforms are needed in some jobs. In the hotel biz, a uniform immediately tells you a multitude of things, such as "This is a hotel employee." They can even signal the type of job.

Go too casual and guests wonder, "Who is this person?" In some respects, we all wear uniforms. The question is whether they advance our purpose. If the "uniform" isn't right, we have a problem.