The rise of dressed down software execs like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and late Apple boss Steve Jobs, have led to a gradual easing of workplace norms when it comes to attire, according to Dubai-based etiquette specialist Siama Qadar.
California’s laid back Silicon Valley might have started this revolution, but the impact these west coast firms now have over business and culture in the more traditional corridors of power over on the east coast, is now taking root, with New York based investment firm Goldman Sachs being a prime example.
“Because of these new businesses that have only popped up over the last 10 years, style has moved away from suits and ties and companies like Goldman Sachs have to become modern,” said Qadar, chief executive officer and founding principal of the Institute of Modern Etiquette in Dubai, which deals with corporate business etiquette.
“When client facing it’s important to wear a suit but when you are meeting a software developer and you know that they are likely to be wearing jeans and a T-shirt, you’ve got to modify your business attire so it suits them.
“If you go in with a suit and they wear jeans and a T-shirt there is an imbalance, it’s not equal and it will be harder to win that client, so they are adapting to what society is throwing into the world.
“Productivity will increase because they will be able to close deals and be a lot more in tune with clients,” adds Qadar, who has covered this subject in her upcoming book Ladies and Gentlemen, The Quintessential Book on Modern Etiquette, which is out this month.
“It’s part of a wider trend and I think it’s just a matter of being more modern and adapting to the world because they don’t want to be left behind.”
Asked if, being an obvious proponent of etiquette, she thought the slipping of standards was a bad thing, Qadar replied: “Etiquette is very much about what society accepts and whether you are being considerate to society.
“If society says wear jeans and a T-shirt then you have got to be considerate. So part of etiquette is about being convenient and considerate to society, but at the same time we have got to do it in a classy, elegant and sophisticated way.
“There is a purpose to why we are going into that meeting, so you can’t forget the purpose if we are adapting to new trends and styles society is throwing at us. Yes, there will be a dilution of etiquette but we have always got to keep intelligence, professionalism, composure and consideration at the highest level with patience and tolerance.
“Etiquette will become a lot more emotional rather than something that is materialistically seen. It will be more about being a good human than materialistic things, so I think etiquette will shift more into emotional intelligence.”
SOURCE : GULFNEWS