Enlarge image
Appropriate clothing can help to be taken seriously as a career starter (symbol image)
Photo: Isaiah & Taylor / Stocksy United
"I'd like to speak to the boss," a customer told me on the phone shortly after my husband and I became CEOs of our company.
I still remember how alienated I felt at the time.
I was the boss!
But I was only 26, looked more like 18. In my first years as managing director, there were often situations in which customers or suppliers didn’t take me seriously.
Luckily, that's over now, ten years later.
Maybe it's because I've learned to accept some things.
In many places, working life is still characterized by hierarchies.
And competition: Colleagues compete for promotion, departments for budgets, companies for customer orders.
Anyone who is new to this system does not yet know all the customs.
Those who have been there for a longer period of time benefit from their experience.
That's only logical.
Effort hurts, composure is good
Acceptance does not mean accepting everything. But it can be a relief to realize that everyone used to be like that, that everyone started somewhere. The exchange with other young entrepreneurs and executives helped me. That's how I learned that certain people just don't let the ideas of young colleagues convince them - no matter how hard you try.
That's why at some point I stopped exerting myself too much - and took a decisive advantage from it: Those who are under stress unconsciously tense their muscles, heart rate and blood pressure rise.
Our counterpart also notices that, we seem nervous, insecure.
But if I rest within myself and don't fight hopeless battles, that has the same effect on the outside.
The probability of being taken seriously increases – a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, not all older people are narrow-minded and stubborn.
On the contrary: I learned a lot from experienced colleagues.
Therefore one should not confuse inner peace and serenity with arrogance.
Nobody likes to work with arrogant people.
What else can help
The road to more serenity is a long, arduous one - but one that is worth it. Until then, newcomers can follow a few additional rules to be taken more seriously.
Language:
Speaking slowly, clearly and not too loudly signals that you have something important to say. Therefore, before you speak, take a deep breath in your stomach – and then take a break to let the sentences work on the other person. The pitch of the voice also has an effect on the other person: a higher pitch of voice signals an increased stress level. We therefore subconsciously perceive deep voices as more trustworthy. This is not sexism, but unfortunately biology. A lower pitch can be trained. For a number of years now, women have been speaking more and more deeply and are thus approaching men in terms of pitch.
The clothes:
Here it is important to swim with the current.
When a suit is worn in the office, there is no getting around doing the same.
If the boss appears casual, the effect of newcomers in smart suits or costumes can be fatal, according to the motto: "He thinks he's better." Hierarchy can also be reflected in clothing, so you should watch carefully.
With other things you have to weigh up how far you want to bow to the requirements of a more conservative working world.
An example is
the
hair
.
I had long blond hair when I was in school.
At some point I read a study that said: Dark hair is better than light hair in application photos, short hair better than long hair and tied back better than open hair.
I now dye my hair medium brown and observe that it actually works.
I didn't go as far as cutting off my long hair though.
Most of the time I wear them in a ponytail – I can live with that compromise.
Feel comfortable in your own skin
We all subconsciously put our conversation partners in drawers.
As a career starter in particular, you should always keep this in mind.
Because if we know these drawers, we can also work actively to get out of there again.
For example, by paying attention to our clothes and language, emphasizing our successes and achievements more, and trying to be more relaxed despite all the anger.
Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves how far they want to change for the job.
After all, the be-all and end-all is that we feel comfortable in our own skin, even at work.
Anyone who is attached to their loose blonde hair should under no circumstances sacrifice it just to be taken more seriously afterwards.
I don't care if someone infers my competence from my age or appearance.
I've even found that being underestimated can have advantages.
Occasionally I intentionally undersell myself in meetings.
If I deliver good results, even though no one expected it, it confuses my counterpart.
This is also a factor that you can take advantage of.
