Leaders Must Look the Part
If you want to be taken seriously, inspire confidence, and establish a presence, start by dressing for success
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While conducting research for my first book, I had the opportunity to interview a true military hero, Commander Matt Eversmann. He teaches leadership at Johns Hopkins University. Eversmann led troops into battle in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. The fierce battle served as the inspiration behind the movie Black Hawk Down.
I asked Eversmann, "What's the secret of leadership?" His answer puzzled me for a moment. He said it starts with how a leader wears his "uniform." Eversmann said the first time he meets a subordinate, his whites are whiter, his shoes are shinier, and his pants are better pressed. Always dress a little better than everyone else, he advised.