Appearance isn’t crucial to many things in life. We do put it on a pedestal though – and treat it as more important than it actually is, or ever will be. How we look makes us feel good, it can help us win interviews, and it can make us feel a bit happier; but as the be all and end all of life? Not at all, there are plenty of things in a person that we value more than appearance, personality being one of these things.
For a business, however – appearances are everything. There’s a very specific reason for why appearances are valued so highly in the world of business, and it’s because businesses are trying to part people with their cash. That means we take into account more than just appearances, of course – but if a business doesn’t seem up to our standards when it comes to how it looks in a multitude of areas, we will more than likely take our money to a fresher competitor unless there is something that links us to that specific business. Appearances can manifest in a lot of different areas of business, and while it’s crucial for all businesses to take pride in their outward appearances, some aspects of looks and appearances are law in certain industries.
Take restaurants for an example. While a restaurant might look good on the outside, where we truly want it to look good is within the kitchen as it means hygiene practices are likely being followed. Clean tiles, clean staff, and clean machinery are the law in the business of food. A food business that doesn’t take pride in its cleanliness and in its appearance might be breaking plenty of regulations in regards to its operation and the rules set out by the industry regulator. A business in the food industry simply cannot afford to take liberties with the way that it looks, simply because the way it looks has a huge part to play in sticking to the hygiene rules set out by regulating bodies. What’s more, even if a food business is clean where it matters – any lack of pride or care in its external appearance might signify to potential customers and the public that the food business does not care about how it looks – thus it is dirty.
The fact that a business is dirty possibly could not be any further from the truth, however, if it gives any inkling that it might be, with things that signify uncleanliness, it won’t matter. If people think a business is unclean, they will believe it is unclean – regardless of what the truth may actually be.
A business in the food industry simply cannot afford to take liberties with the way that it looks, simply because the way it looks has a huge part to play in sticking to the hygiene rules set out by regulating bodies. What’s more, even if a food business is clean where it matters – any lack of pride or care in its external appearance might signify to potential customers and the public that the food business does not care about how it looks – thus it is dirty.
The fact that a business is dirty possibly could not be any further from the truth, however, if it gives any inkling that it might be, with things that signify uncleanliness, it won’t matter. If people think a business is unclean, they will believe it is unclean – regardless of what the truth may actually be.
That’s how important appearances are. Simply because they signify ideals and project thoughts. A confident appearance can give an aura of confidence, even if confidence is lacking. We have an unconscious prejudice when it comes to looks – so appearances can really affect the way that we think and act; so for a business, this could mean the difference between success and failure.
It’s worth keeping your appearance at the highest standards possible – be it a pitch, an interview or daily business life and this is something you can do with the right help. Presentation design firm Buffalo 7 has some great advice on their blog – but you’ll also stumble upon helpful guides and tutorials in industry forums.
What other things can you do to improve your appearance in business? It depends. If you’re a worker who wants some upward mobility – you want to dress for the job you want, you need to work on your posture, your attitude, your language and your work ethic. Appearances are everything to personal growth – and even if confidence is faux or faked, it can lead to the appearance of confidence to everyone else. A lot comes from what is projected by your appearance – and even though your actions might speak louder than anything, it’s your appearance and how you project yourself through it that really matters.
Areas like branding are where a business can stand to benefit the most from its appearance. Branding can be anything that visualizes the business – so it could be the logo, the actions of a workforce, promotional materials – anything. You want to ensure that your branding projects the best image of your business possible into the outside world.
This is why looks matter in business and why you need to pay attention to how your business looks to others.
Appearance is something extremely important to a business, or anyone involved in business. A poor outward appearance can derail any day to day hard work. If you’re trying your best to run a tidy ship, make sure it looks as good as it works!
