Dress for the job you don't want
Let’s be real: For most of us, even if we work in a place without a dress code, there’s a dress code. The suit (or at least blazer) and tie standard. The generation that constitutes most of leadership believes in ideas like “dress for success.” Even if it’s subconscious, they end up judging the “under-dressed” in most situations. This is why the old adage “dress for the job you want” remains valid. You may think it’s unfair, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of this phenomenon.
There have been times in my career where I didn’t want what comes with being well-dressed. Where I didn’t want more briefing or client-facing opportunities. Sometimes I’d rather be a donkey than a show pony. Sometimes I want to be left alone while I focus on building something. The marketing bit can come later—or someone else can do it.
Obviously, I could never say any of the things in the above paragraph to management. But I can subconsciously get what I want by consistently under-dressing. Not only does this signal to management that you aren’t long-winded, client-facing meeting material, they’ll also assume you must be building something. (This is a miraculous outcome for the under-dressers who are, in fact, doing nothing.)
Dress for the job you don’t want. Are you tired of endless expectations to meet with partner organizations or clients? Under dress until they instinctually let you off the hook. Are you tired of being in the weeds on the factory floor? Over dress until someone notices and pulls you up to a “strategic” role.