internal market than in the real world of the organization’s cus-
tomers. Such cultures are enjoyed by “command-and-control”
thinkers. They are the places in which people who are not open to
new ideas like to feel comfortable.
And finallysuits. I have got nothing against suits personally;
in fact I rather like them. During my own career I have quite con-
sciously worn particular suits and ties to ensure that those I am try-
ing to persuade are at least not going to be put off by the
superficialities of what I am wearing. Sometimes it is easier to speak
radical thoughts if you are dressed in the clothes of the “tribe” with
which you are working—we are less threatened and our minds are
therefore more receptive to new ideas.
In fact, an environment of relentless jeans and t-shirts can be
just as oppressively uniform as rows of suits. However, I use suits
here to suggest the tyranny of a place in which everything is subor-
dinated to an imagined view of what it is appropriate for people to
wear, without any consideration for the preferences of individuals
or the nature of the work being undertaken. In the current business
environment, clothes themselves have become an interestingly
unreliable way of judging creativity. Dress-down Fridays provide
freedom for some and embarrassment for others.
Interestingly, many of the world’s largest consultancies are
now issuing guidance on appropriate dress-down codes for dealing
with clients. The results of dressing down can be quite dreadful as
confused consultants, without the certainty of their suits, opt for
their equally offputting “executive leisure wear.” The shape of your
shoe, the type of shoulder bag you carry, and the style of shirt you
choose all, of course, give out powerful messages in today’s brand-
conscious environment.Do you agree with these ideas? Have you encountered these or similar barriers in your work-
place? Can you think of examples from your own experience of any of these “serious sins”?
If so, what could you do to prevent it happening?
Can you think of other ways in which people’s creativity can be undermined?
How do you dress at work? To what extent do you think it is appropriate for employees to
wear what they want for business? Do you welcome the current move away from the suit?162 Power Up Your Mind
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