Sir, – Your correspondent Eithne O’Callaghan hits the nail on the head about looking smart in a business setting (Letters, February 3rd). We are not supposed to judge a book by its cover but psychologists know that a value judgment of a person at a meeting or an interview is made in the first 30 seconds, albeit subconsciously.
Not wearing a tie to a meeting may look cool, but in certain business cultures as in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, France or Italy, it may be considered disrespectful. Similarly, the initial greetings follow an unwritten protocol; one shakes hands or bows, a few pleasantries are exchanged and the business matters are introduced.
I introduced a potential corporate client to a big property owner in Spain some years ago. The client was not wearing a tie and began by boasting how much money they were going to invest before he even sat down. After a (prematurely) short meeting we dispersed and the property owner later buttonholed me asking “Is your client really an executive? There is no way we would ever do business with such an ignorant person.”
Whether it is “cool” or not, dress code matters – which is why certain professions (medical, transport, military, police, security, justice) require uniforms. – Yours etc,
RM Block
GEORGE REYNOLDS,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Eithne O’Callaghan tells men to put on a tie if they want to look smart. I await a letter from a man instructing women how to dress. – Yours, etc,
HUGH McDONNELL
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
