The team captain doesn’t wear a different uniform
"Dress for the story you'd like to have people know about you before you even open your mouth." Rachel Roy
I’ve always believed in leader presence – how a leader communicates and behaves – how they carry themselves, even how they dress. Should leaders have perks? Special treatment? These are valid questions, and the best leaders will wrestle with them. As a leader, I typically had the biggest office and more staff around me to help me. I made more money than anyone else. I didn’t view these things as perks, rather, requirements and reimbursements for the job I had to perform and for carrying all the risk in an organization. My bigger office allowed me to think strategically away from the hustle and bustle. It allowed me to meet with people in private in the convenience of my own office amidst a demanding schedule. Those who assisted me, helped me lead more effectively benefiting everyone. If the ship sank I, and only I would go down with it. All of this said, I still operated with humility. I still enjoyed rolling up my sleeves to be with the team to show them that I was not above hard, sometimes dirty work. Along with this, I wanted to look like my people in terms of dress, but not always.
You decide how you will dress, here I’ll offer some thoughts to inform your decision. The best examples of leaders dressing like their people are Major League Baseball and the U.S. Military. Baseball managers dress like their players though they don’t hit balls or slide for bases. Military leaders, at least in the Army dress like their soldiers. I did, but I didn’t always carry a rifle and dig a foxhole. I know some healthcare leaders who wear nurse uniforms or scrubs so they will all look as one even though many of them do not conduct nurse duties. Dressing similar helps build camaraderie and fosters a spirit of, “we are all in this together.” In my small business I’ll wear shirts with our logo on them like my people though I rarely do the work my people do. Sometimes I’ll dress a bit nicer as I’ll attend a networking event or meet with a community leader where I want to look more professional.
I also believe it is ok for the leader to dress differently. Leaders do different things than their people and it may require different dress. A leader may be headed to meet with a board for his or her business. They might have an important meeting with a government official. It might be impractical for a leader to wear a uniform. No need for the owner of a vehicle maintenance shop to walk around in mechanics overalls all day. He or she can don them every now and then as needed or desired. This different set of attire separates the leader from the pack or elevates them in prestige. That is not a bad thing so long as the leader is humble, engaged with their people, and even vulnerable. Looking the part matters.
You are the team captain, yet you are a teammate. Dress like the team. Or you are the leader, and you should honor that role, not spend all your time with your sleeves rolled up. Dress like the leader. Whatever you choose, spend time with your people. Get your hands dirty some days. Listen to them. Learn from them. Be humble, transparent, and vulnerable. People gravitate toward that style of leadership. Whatever you decide to wear – lead.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell