Want a promotion? Take cues from your boss: 68 percent of managers say you’re more likely to score “brownie points” with them if you share a sense of style, according to a recent survey from the department store Debenhams.
Suit up!
Granted, the survey was conducted by a store that sells stylish clothes to guys. But could following in your boss’s footsteps actually make you stand out?
Indeed—it’s called a clonal effect, says Paul Powers, Ph.D., author of Winning Job Interviews. When the big man picks up on something you both have in common (like a favorite label or a preference for pin stripes), it creates a connection upon which a professional relationship can be built, Powers explains. (The good news: If your boss dresses like a dope, this bond can be formed over other similarities like a favorite sports team, says Powers.)
Just remember to create your own signature statement, too. For example, you could wear a tie every day, even in a more casual office. It shows people that you’re a man who doesn’t miss details, says Lloyd Boston, a style correspondent for NBC. (Looking for more style inspiration? See how to upgrade your work wardrobe.)
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