Our parents or teachers told our younger selves to never judge a book by its cover. As we grow older, however, we realize that “judging a book by its cover” is second-nature for many of us. We often draw several conclusions about other people within seconds of first meeting them. This is why it’s essential that we always look our best, so we can always make a good first impression on the people we meet.
Studies have shown that there are professional and personal benefits to always looking our best. Let’s take a look at some of them.
- It helps increases your salary by 5% to 10%. A paper written by Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle and published by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that people who dress well at work and look professional have bigger salaries than their less put together co-workers.
- It improves your ability to communicate others. Having a sound argument presented in an organized and logical fashion can indeed help you communicate with others more efficiently. However, it seems that appearance can also help help you to make your point. Well-groomed people are likely to be more respected and understood.
- It boosts your self-confidence. Knowing that you look your best makes you feel good about yourself. This, in turn, boosts your self-confidence. And when you’re confident, more people are drawn to you. In addition, it also makes you feel more motivated and confident about your ability to accomplish a lot of things.
- It helps you expand your network. Always looking your best helps can help you expand your network professionally and personally. People are more drawn to those who exude strength, confidence, poise, and character according to a study by Karen Dion. It is easier for people with these qualities to find opportunities to meet people who can help with their career or personal life.
Taking the time to look after yourself and ensuring that you always look presentable will help you feel good and inspire others around you.
