Dude, Brush Your Teeth!

Hygiene is important. Cleanliness is next to godliness and all that. Hygiene is important everywhere but it is very important in the workplace.

Hygiene means you do not smell like a goat. It means you try to wash your hands, face, your hair, or your body. It means you take effort in shaving or brushing your hair.

“dude, brush your teeth” photo by Dan Cook on Unsplash

It even means brushing your teeth. If we are talking on the elevator and less than arm’s length away, admittedly, I do not want to smell your stale coffee breath and what you had for breakfast this morning, nor do you wish to smell my bacon-egg-jalapeno bagel let alone see it stuck in my teeth.

 Men and ladies, quick tips, keep a travel-size deodorant, floss, toothbrush, and toothpaste in your work bag, just in case, it will surprise you how often you use it.

“I can still smell it” photo by Paulo Silva on Unsplash

Hygiene does not need to come with overpowering scents.

These scents include natural and chemically enhanced scents. Obviously, body odor, as well as perfume, can both be overwhelming. For those of you that wear cologne and perfume, please dial it back to something less than mosquito DDT fog. It does not need to overpower the office so much so that our body’s natural reaction is to shut down our sense of smell throughout the rest of the day. The fact that we can smell you across the whole office space or down the hall five minutes after you have passed is a little much. Some scents are mixed in with the many hygienic products today and are usually subtle enough.

Hair is always a tricky wicket and that depending upon the role you are in, certain hairstyles are better or are required either from a culture or from a safety standpoint. Many hairstyles exist primarily because of the clientele or the business peer group that you are working in is “standard” or expected. Some hairstyles are better than others from a functional standpoint, certainly keeping the hair out of your eyes or if you must wear a headset all day or if you are an emergency responder position, some hairstyles work better than others. Just choose wisely and keep it in tune.

Men’s facial hair and beards are popular, but many of you need to learn how to tend your beard and keep it properly trimmed and clean. There is no reason to look like Grizzly Adams or have food stuck in your beard. Some of you, like me, are genetically challenged to grow a beard, and it looks like a patchwork quilt, please stop trying to grow one.

“mannequin wearing red notched lapel suit jacket” by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

Hygiene also means dressing for business. There are some articles of clothing that you should not be wearing within a workplace, even if it is fashionable outside the business. Dress for the right environment. Ripped jeans may be in style per the recent periodicals, they are not always appropriate in the workplace. Club clothes should remain in the closet until it is time to go to the club. Unless of course, you work in a club. Recognize the difference between Friday casual and weekend casual. 

Your clothes should be clean and wrinkle-free and not smelling like you have worn them for three days straight. They should fit nicely, not excessively tight nor too baggy or oversized. Gentleman, you should be wearing a belt with any pants you wear. If you wear shoes that require polish, usually most leather shoes that are out there, take the time to get them polished. Make the effort to dress up a level.

“Damn, I look better than this mower” photo by Reuben Mcfeeters on Unsplash

This is not directly about you. This is the unfortunate perspective of others around you — the ones you work with. Your manager or business owner is looking for the next one in charge. If you are in sales, you are putting yourself forward as the brand of the company — you are the company. If you look sharp, then your business looks sharp.

You are that person that is looking to level up and you begin by checking the basics. By having proper hygiene and taking the time to be sure that you are dressing professionally will be recognized. What you will also find when you start dressing up is that your peers will also pay more attention and will recognize those activities and begin to make changes themselves. They too will up their game.

This is not an attempt to make everyone anonymous (rule #6). It is not to make people “normal” so much as a check to see if you are playing well with others and *ahem* following the dress code of the business you are working in. You are your business card. Look the part.

Look clean, look crisp, smell clean, subtle scents go a long way. The age-old — dress for success — has value. Take the extra step to ensure you make a good impression, every time.

Go forth and be brilliant.