I’ve always heard the phrase, “The clothes make the man.” But let’s be honest just because someone wears a suit to work doesn’t mean they automatically deserve respect.
Personally, I love dressing in a way that reflects my personality. Sometimes that means rocking a pink shirt, overalls, or funky socks. And yeah, I’ve been made fun of for it. One time, I was in a meeting with a client reviewing how we had helped grow their business by $8 million the previous year. Instead of focusing on the results, they took a jab at my outfit and said, “Patrick, you’re kind of a Froot Loop.”
That moment came back to me recently when I saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy being criticized for his attire while meeting in the Oval Office. Here’s a leader fighting for his country, standing firm in the face of war, and yet people were more concerned about the fact that he wasn’t wearing a suit. The level of disrespect was astounding.
Clothes don’t make the man. A man’s heart, integrity, and actions do.
And that’s something we need to remember in business, too. Judge people by their work, their leadership, and their character—not by what they wear.
Written by Patrick Tape Fleming