Outfits that deliver a professional outlook during training
Money is tight everywhere, and executive education is certainly no exception. Pressure is mounting on business schools to show more direct and systematic evidence of a program’s impact on either the company or the individual manager. Promises no longer suffice; senior executives responsible for financing such programs want an objective assessment of what attending an executive education program actually achieves. So what about if you could achieve this through what you wear and how you accessorize while training? Be sure to come across as formal but at the same time open. You can still wear that suit but why not add a bit of colour to your outfit? This gives you and your look a bit more personality than just a boring black and white suit.
Today, the impact of executive education programs isn’t measured, because measuring it is difficult and risky—you could find out the programs aren’t working. But if business schools are going to deliver what the market wants—programs that deliver actual results—they’re going to have to step into uncharted territory and embrace that risk.
QUESTIONNAIRES AREN’T ENOUGH
While the individuals sponsoring executive education want to see direct results, many in the HR community are satisfied by simply observing the program development and participating in the learning process during the program itself. Many rely on post-program evaluations by the executives who participated. How you present yourself really matters when giving presentations. Wear heels to look tall and confident and always remember to shine your shoes. Make sure your hair does not look messy and if you wear make up make sure it is in place.
However, theoretical evidence suggests that behavioral changes at the workplace require multiple points of reflection, multiple sources of feedback, linking a program’s learning to an organizational necessity such as project work, linking program learning outcomes to internal company systems, and providing a supportive technology infrastructure for networking and internal knowledge sharing.
Based on article written by Professor Bettina Büechel in May 2009
Bettina Büechel teaches Orchestrating Winning Performance at IMD
Categorised as: Women's Fashion