Hi John-Howard,
Excellent point that is missed by many instructor and students. Dress is not everything but it sure sets the stage for what is to come next and that is expectation. By being professionally dressed in relation to the career field an instructor shows the students that care has been taken on the part of that instructor to get ready for the class. Important and powerful message that sets the stage for future successes.
Gary
I think this is one of these interesting true things that we can't make explicit to students without misleading them: because professional dress is in fact a form of 'uniform' -- a way of telling everyone else in sight that you are on the case and ready to rock. The issue here is that in modern society we have to interact with a large number of people without the slightest clue of what their actual capabilities are -- so we employ proxies like dress, speech, and so on, allowing us to make an educated guess.
There is a real shamanistic quality to this -- if we went to the doctor, and he was dressed in a scruffy sweater and blue jeans, part of the cure would be missing. In other words, we are often led to good judgements on the basis of intangible cues which are themselves irrational.
I am firmly convinced that correct professional dress is one of the major components contributing to my making a successful classroom appearance. I shudder to think what would happen if I turned up with my pants drooping down halfway to my knees, in the same way as a number of my students model something else than professional success.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Oh wait I did!!!:)
Prexactly, how will I convince students that I have valid information to teach them about fashion if I don't dress the part?
Hi Penelope,
Too much cannot be said about this. By dressing and acting like a professional are reflecting the standards of your career field. You may be the first person that the students have met that represents the field they are training to enter. As you know you do make a lasting impression.
Gary
