Dear All,
Recently while I was pitching for one of the projects in one of the pharma companies (a known MNC), I was very much confident to get the project. Reasons being:
1. We have an expertise to execute the project successfully.
2. We had already proven ourselves in the previous project that we did with the other division of the same company, probably the reason that this new division wanted to give us their project.
3. Product managers, mostly of my age (29 years) were very amiable while they met me and had all the praise for the work that we had done previously.
4. We were cost effective for these managers and agreed to work on strict timelines.
But after few days I was told that the project has been given to some other agency. What could be the reason? Why we lost this project? Were the competitors more cost effective? “NO”: on the contrary sources told me that the other agencies quote was almost double of what we had put.
So what exactly went wrong?
While I started business development in the initial months of venturing out, I used dress up casually for meetings. I thought its cool that way as after all it is the quality of work that counts. But gradually I myself realized that I should wear formal clothes.
So was I not wearing formal clothing for this meeting? Ofcourse I was but guess what…sources told me that when I met the product manager’s boss to discuss about project and to tell him about my company and team,he found me too cool or casual to be a director of some company…HAHA! Guess he was noticing my beard style more than the science which I was discussing.
I think it is time for senior people in industry to be open to the whole idea of young entrepreneurs too being dynamic, creative and intelligent. It is not always experience that makes you a deserving human being OR not just the way you dress or carry yourself that should help you to get business.
Would like other rodinhoods to share their experiences or if you have any suggestions for me on this?
Thanks and regards
Dr. Dang
Sridhar V
I agree with your last point on the fact that younger people can also be capable, dynamic and experienced in business, and should not be seen as not-deserving. I know many young people with good knowledge, experience and maturity.
However, in some cases you need to adjust to your environment, which I’m sure is obvious. For instance its important to maintain certain formal traditions or norms in meetings with clients/customers. Its not about wearing a full suit and tie ….but atleast maintaining some formal dress code which shows you are serious and know the business etiquette. (Please dont get me wrong….I’m not referring to you but this is in general).
If you do business with larger and more older companies they wont take you seriously if you are in sneakers/t-shirt. Its easy to argue or debate on this but ultimately the customer has a choice. You cant argue with a customer. Until you become a Steve Jobs or Sabeer Bhatia ….you need to adjust or adapt to the normal business norms and etiquette.
All said and done, I think that the old brigade should also be more mature to understand that younger people are also knowledgeable, experienced and skillful in different areas. The seniors can also work well with the young professionals to bring the best of both worlds.
asha chaudhry
amit…
u may wanna read these two posts
https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/will-you-go-to-work-in-your
https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/why-i-don-t-care-about-what-i…
hey… stay inspired!
🙂
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
This you must read – reproduced from : https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/why-i-don-t-care-about-what-i…
Story 1 – What I wear.
In or around 2004 , 2007 one of our Companies – Mobile2win Games2win was growing fast and needed VC money.
Neeraj Arora of Google Ventures was interested in meeting me and I went for a meeting with Neeraj and with Thota Ranganath – Founder of Mobile2win (China).
I think it was the Mumbai summer time.
I was dressed in a shirt and formal trouser and had a jacket on. The meeting was at the Grand Hyatt Vakola. Ranga was wearing a formal shirt (I think with cufflinks) and a trouser.
We walked towards that sofa area outside the coffee shop and spotted Neeraj sitting with someone in the coffee shop. The only sofa we got to sit on was the one next opposite the table so we sat there. Immediately I recognized that the person sitting with Neeraj Arora was Mahesh Murthy (of Mahesh Murthy fame ; pinstorm etc). I said ‘Hi’ to him.
Once we were settled, Ranga whispered to me – ‘Alok, do you know that person sitting next to Neeraj’?
I said ‘Yup – well. He is MM’. And I explained MM’s background to Ranga.
Ranga said ‘Alok, look at what he is wearing’.
I looked and noticed that Mahesh was wearing a round neck T-Shirt that was either Navy or Black in Color. It was faded and its collar was slightly wonky. It has the words “NASA” written in it in white on the right side… the “N” of Nasa was completely faded and was barely visible.
Neeraj seemed captivated by his conversation.
I was sweating in my Jacket and shirt and my mind was on my clothes and not on my pitch.
Till I saw Mahesh Murthy dressed the way he was.
That’s when I realized that its not what you wear to work – it what you what you DO that matters.
Thank you Mahesh Murthy!
(Ps – I told this story to MM last month when we meet at MICA for a conference – he was shocked).
Story 2 – The doors
I was visiting the Google Campus in 2009 with my Games2win founder Mahesh Khambadkone.
We had lunch in that superb Google café complex and were returning to the office buildings.
On the way back, I saw something that I can never forget.
The main door of the google office had lots of movement and 2 people tried to enter one door. Then one man who has lots of salt and pepper hair stopped and retracted and held the door open for the other man. The other man fumbled but the salt and pepper guy urged him to enter.
In a few seconds I realized that the salt and pepper guy was Larry Page. He was holding the door for his employee and making it a point to let him go first.
There was no drama, there was no formality. It was just pure COURTESY.
Funnily, he was wearing a white t – khakhi bermudas and white crocs. I remember those distinctly.
I always open doors when I see someone approaching from outside (if it’s a glass door) and if I am moving between doors, then I am very careful holding the door open and gently handing it over to the person behind me as I move forward. Be it co-founder, driver or janitor.
I think people (In India) think that holding doors for people behind them is insulting – it’s as if they are holding a door like a servant. They just leave the door as they exit and its so insulting and bad mannered.
Larry Page who created Google can teach us a thing or two in that department.
*****
Suresh Mansharamani
There are examples on the both sides.I have read Alok’s post about dressing. I do agree with him but my experience had been different. When I used to travel in my garment export days I was always stopped at the US customes as well as Indian customes.I started wearing jacket and Tie and I always walked past customes any where in the world without being stopped.Many other situations.Bottom line we don’t loose anything by dressing well.If what we are doing is right,body language is Dabang then the good dress up adds to it.
Once Henry Ford’s son asked him Dad why do you dress so casual,he replied everybody knows in U.S who I am.His son further asked why do you dress like that when you are oversea,he repkied no body know who I am
Aditya Kumar Nayak
I can so identify with you! I look almost like a Hippie and usually wear smart casuals to meetings. maybe I have been lucky till now 🙂 and I am 20
Anirudh B Balotiaa
For me personally, I always prefer dressing up than dressing down. Yes one who is better dressed(suited within the environment) is taken to be more seriously than the one who is very casual. I am sure Alok and MM are exceptions more so because everyone knows who they are.
Casual approach to anything is not really appreciated and that goes to dressing as well.
But its an interesting discussion to have…
Anamika Joshi
Strange but today morning me and my business partner were discussing the same thing.. We ended up saying that we should dress the way we feel because afterall its the work that speaks.. But then people see your work later, it’s you who they see and its uer dress with which they assess u – it’s in human nature..
I personally hav no idea what is right and what is not. Being in creative business of creating nd communicating ideas, I prefer casual wear.. Would follow this discussion for more inputs from others.
Fayzad Wadia
. .. .hmmm.
must admit, i have been on either sides of this situation.
have dressed casually, sometimes realized that the regular marketing, mba :: so called business oriented varieties of clients and colleagues end up looking down on you.
at other times, the same casual dressing has given me an edge, since it ends up leaving a visual impression on the customer, once they have grasped our pitch and the depth of our proposal.
i am a creative guy, i do dress up formally on 40% of the meeting days, and then sometimes you have a client say, “Oh but you dont come across as a creative guy !!” “you do not look whacky and out of the box”
LOL, this gets confusing . . .
Also, my face and height often belies my age and hence my experience.
to this a thousand times i have been asked to come to a meeting with a stuble or a beard.
Add to this, my mom always mentions, that Architects have beards, hence i must keep one myself !!
LOL, this is confusing too . . .
My Summary and Understanding . . .
dress neat, dress comfortable . . . yes, first impressions are important.
but surely first impressions are often beyond just the dress and the walk and the shake hand :: first impression is also the showcase of confidence and conviction in your pitch to the client.
if someone had to judge you only on the basis of your appearance (and nothing else) they probably dint need the solution you were offering in the first place . . .
I follow the K.I.S.S principle in dressing for meetings !!
your thoughts please !!
🙂 f
Vijay Khubchandani
@Amit Dang – According to me, one should wear what one feels comfortable in.. Something that doesn’t distract ones’ mind from the Agenda at hand.. As long as your clothes aren’t Smelly or Filthy, any Dress code is just fine.. And there is no reason to alter your Wardrobe to match somebody else’ tastes..
Dimple Chandrakant Khubchandani
How you look i think is a secondary thing.. but how you carry yourself is important ! also .. i dont think it has got any connection with business .. Quality , strategies and the way you work always does ! – in my language if i have to say i would rather say – no offense pls “ABH GORA TO GADHA BHI HOTA HAI ” !!.. How Quality work you give to your clients is important .. how you dress up is a secondary thing ..but yes you should wear what you are comfortable in ..and whatever you wear ,you should know how to carry yourself !
Sai Rodinhood Pothuri
Hi Dr Dang
I Experienced the same, but not with client, even my experience is quite a small one but just wanted to share. we are into manufacturing and export, we regularly use courier to send and receive samples from suppliers, so on this part i thought of having account with Professional Courier, where by month end they issue me bill, i can check it and then pay it.
So for the first time i went to meet the manager and i am just like wearing a T shirt and non jeans pant ( total bad style ), i met him and provided the details, then he immediately responded like, we need 6k every month billing, more business otherwise we wont provide you account. so as my business is going on slowly i can hardly give some 500/- bill per month
So after 2 days i thought of meeting him again ( as my friends suggested me to meet him with good dress code ) . So with good dress code, i met him and you know he responded very quick, called up the regional business head on spot, and he came in half an hour, filled the form and every thing done with in 1 hour time and after 2 days i got the call with account details.
Lesson Learnt : to meet anybody for any purpose a good dress code is important
and let me also tell you one funny fact, its already been 1 year with them and every month the bill comes around 300 – 400/- ( less than 500 /- ) and up to now no one asked me like we expected good business from your end but every month bill comes the same.. please give us more business blah blah blah
Thanks
Sai