Workplace Challenges
How to kill your career with the wrong wardrobe changeDress for disasterSharon, an administrative co-ordinator, was noticeably overt with her flirtation at work. ELLEN GOLDHAR |
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 [ 2005-03-16 ] |
Juila Roberts' Erin Brockovich had loads of chutzpah and favoured figure-revealing clothing.
In a nutshell -- she was sexy.
Many of her colleagues assumed her voluptuous curves, enhanced cleavage and fitted clothes got her the job, but even if that were the case, they failed to protect her from being fired. And she was.
At the end of the day, if you can't back up your beauty with brains and mental power, and follow through -- most companies won't keep you.
Women have been capitalizing on their femininity for a long time. According to a survey completed by Top Sante magazine, one in five women said they would be prepared to flirt with the boss in order to boost their job prospects. However, research shows that flirting in the workplace will not get you promoted.
Actually, blatant flirting and dressing provocatively can be a liability, not an asset. It often provokes jealousy, creates barriers to being treated sincerely and makes it easy for others to down-grade successes (albeit maybe unfairly).
Accomplishments are no longer seen as a true reflection of one's inner capabilities, but as a reflection of an outer-directed lifestyle.
Let's be honest -- mini-skirts and stilettos weren't designed for a woman's comfort and aren't practical workplace attire -- the only reason for a woman to wear that apparel is to get noticed.
And it does work -- you will get noticed, but not always in the way that you anticipated.
Just look at the women on the popular television show, The Apprentice. When it comes to entrusting the development of your newest multi-million dollar building to a young unknown, who are you most likely to hire to oversee the project -- the cutesy girl in the mini or the serious candidate in the pants? We all saw who won.
"That exact portrayal of women on The Apprentice is the worst thing for women -- it's the demise of the female professional," says Roz Usheroff, renowned image maker and president of The Usheroff Institute.
"As soon as you promote your beauty instead of your brains, you're not going to be taken seriously. I used to wear short skirts, but found that men would be more interested in checking out my body than checking out my ideas, so now I wear pants," says Usheroff.
Michelle, a partner in a private investment management firm gets agitated at the mere mention of the words flirtation and sexuality. "My image, or the way in which I'm perceived, significantly impacts my career. I read a Harvard Business Review study that said people make a first impression within seven seconds of meeting you and 94% of the time their initial assessment is correct."
Would you ever work for a social or charitable enterprise in the third sector?