Part 1: Dress for Confidence

Want to discover a secret weapon for building confidence?

By the end of this short video, you will understand how the clothes
you wear could be impacting your confidence and performance at work. You will
then be ready to go out and start experimenting to find your confident style. 

Come with me as we dive into the psychology of clothing in part 1 of
this 3 part mini video series of Unlocking Confidence.

Enclothed cognition is a fascinating term that was coined by some
American researchers who experimented with people wearing lab coats. The basic
premise is that when you are wearing specific clothing such as a lab coat you
subconsciously shift your mindset to suit the clothing you are wearing. 

For example if you believe the lab coat you are wearing belongs to a
doctor you will perform better than if you believe it belongs to a painter.

So how do we make that work in the workplace? We can't all be
wearing lab coats to work.

Blazers are your secret weapon.

Research suggests that when wearing a blazer you:

1. make decisions easier
2. speak up more; and
3. can take on negative feedback easier

When you need an extra confidence boost for a meeting or a presentation - put on a blazer.

You may be thinking, but I hate blazers or I find them really
uncomfortable.

No. 1 that means you aren't wearing the right blazers.

But number 2, it doesn't have to be a blazer that is your confident
style.

I wear blazers all the time as my corporate style so for me adding a
blazer doesn't add the extra oompf I may be needing on that particular day.

Instead I have a red structured dress that I call my "don't mess with me dress" and I wear it either when I have had a rough day the day before and I need to recover some confidence or when I know I am going to have a tough day and I need to feel empowered.

It is not going to be the same for everyone.

It is important for you to find what works best for you.

And if you're worried about over doing it remember the wise words of Oscar Wilde.

"You can never be overdressed or overeducated."

So how do you find your confident style?

Experiment with different prints, styles and colours and see which
ones make you feel confident. Step outside your comfort zone and try on things you wouldn't normally wear.

It's good to have a friend watch or video yourself trying on
different options as you are unlikely to see the subtle changes in the mirror.

Keep an eye out for shoulders pulled back, standing up straight,
smiles or powerful facial expressions to help you discover what works best for you.

Just make sure you keep it professional and suitable for your
workplace.

Now go start experimenting in your wardrobe or your favourite store
and make sure you share how you went.

Once you have got an idea of your confident style, check out part 2
of unlocking confidence to see how to use it to your advantage.