The importance of teeth in business

[Kay]

I think it's important to look clean and tidy. Smart, if appropriate. But how far do you have to go to be taken seriously?

Personal grooming makes an impression. I think nails, teeth and hair are very important - not the style but the cleanliness. I notice straight away if someone looks grotty in any of these areas.

What about The Apprentice finalist, Kate? Her teeth don't even look real. Do you think you can go too far with the 'too good to be true' artificial look? Or is a winning (false-looking) smile worth the money on cosmetic dentistry?

What do you think about teeth like that? Would they help you to get on in business?

[NikkiPilkington]

I once had a rep in trying to sell me IT support (in the days when I had plush offices, before I realised what a waste of money THAT was LOL) and was so mesmerised by his glow in the dark teeth I didn't remember a thing he'd said to me afterwards!

Obviously you have to look after yourself, but anything that looks false can be offputting when you're selling based on trust.

[whistle ink]

Crazy white teeth is a put off and would be a distraction I guess. ; P

Just a smartly dressed, clean looking and smelling person will do.

She has kind of a big mouth don't she?

[matt.chatterley]

I think Nikki's comment re: "anything which looks false" is quite accurate. One of the most important things, especially in "uncertain times" (that sounds a bit cheesy), is to be as genuine as possible - I believe.

Ultimately, business is about trust - and when things aren't going well for the majority of folks (or that impression is being given by the media), then doubly so..

[Marketing Donut]

Trying to hard can certainly create a bad impression - people want to engage with people, not robots like Kate from The Apprentice. It is like boy racers, you can strap on all the shiny bits and lights and bodywork you want but underneath you still have a banger

[matt.chatterley]

Yep - I agree with the bulk of comments here.

I just try to look presentable. By nature I'm relatively scruffy (can't help it - think its genetic - I can crease anything in 5 seconds by wearing it!).

If I overdo the 'presentation', I just look fake, and feel uncomfortable (feeling comfortable in business situations is really important, IMO) - but back to the OPs point, I'm always clean, at least!

[Kay]

I'm sure you smell lovely, Matt

It's also a cultural thing where people have certain expectations which business people have to meet to be taken seriously by clients.

For example, I went to a solicitor in Croydon - he was smartly dressed and had a reasonable looking office. Expectations met on that score. I also had the need of a notary in Thailand (to verify some official documents). The office was OK, but the guy was in shorts and a T-shirt. I guess it didn't matter - he did the job required at a very reasonable price - but I did notice his extremely casual appearance.

We also used a Thai legal firm (probably one of the leading ones) for other legal requirements and they were all extremely smartly dressed - to meet the expectations of their Western customers I wonder?

I must admit that when I have to do any face-to-face business, I always go smart-casual (formal business attire isn't appropriate) because I think people will base their impressions of me on how I've presented myself.

The Dragons usually expect people to wear suits and stuff. Are they right to expect that? Even Levi Roots was very smartly kitted out - and it was noticeable.

[matt.chatterley]

My smell aside, lol, you make an interesting set of points.

Particularly - about meeting other peoples expectations.

Should you dress purely to do so?

Or for your own comfort?

Or compromise between the two.

I.e - I went to a "speed networking" event recently, and opted for a decent suit, with a (subtly) patterned shirt and no tie - as you say - kinda smart casual.

A plus for everyone, I think - I'm not being strangled by a tie, so I feel happier and more able to deal with people effectively - they get to see me in a suit, so they know I at least have access to one!

[Mark CP]

I'd agree with Matt- Suit without tie I find to be the right blend of smartness without stuffiness, a colleague of mine used to claim that a tie is a very potent weapon- generally quite a casual guy he'd only wear a tie if things weren't going well with a client; subtle visual queue as for tone of meeting he wanted/ expected, Seemed to work for him anyway.

On teeth I personally find bad breath more offensive than off-white teeth, nothing worse than the stench of the travelling reps friends; coffee and cigs, lingering about when you’re trying to assess viability of a product/ service.

[fundingportal]

Well, like Matt I'm gewnetically engineered to be scruffy. However I do recall simple but effective advice from my first ever training course;

You will never cause offence if you:

Don't swear
Don't drink
Wear a suit/tie

Of coure, once you know your customer you can renegotiate standards!

[matt.chatterley]

Originally Posted by fundingportal

Well, like Matt I'm gewnetically engineered to be scruffy. However I do recall simple but effective advice from my first ever training course;

You will never cause offence if you:

Don't swear
Don't drink
Wear a suit/tie

Of coure, once you know your customer you can renegotiate standards!

All said and done, good advice.

To put myself back in context, I've got a meeting with a new prospect today - it's only short, literally a cup of coffee and a quick chat - he's off on holiday on Sunday, and has already explained what he wants to do on the phone, we just haven't had a chance to meet up yet.

I'll be wearing what I call my "semi casual" suit, with a nice shirt and no tie - I say "semi casual", because its a slightly unusual colour (not the standard stiff-necked grey or black).

[AboveParr]

Most of my clients would die if I turned up in a suit - half would die of fear, the other half would die laughing!

[matt.chatterley]

PS. To follow-up my message earlier.. research failure on my part. It was dress-down day in the office in question, and the end client turned up in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, while everyone else was clad in jeans.

Another reason why I normally don't wear a tie - remove jacket, open an extra shirt button, and you can "casualify" the suit far more.

Unless you have a chestwig, I suppose..

[Kay]

Shorts?! Are you in the UK? If so, has global warming really had such a significant effect that people can wear shorts in June?

[matt.chatterley]

Originally Posted by Kay

Shorts?! Are you in the UK? If so, has global warming really had such a significant effect that people can wear shorts in June?

LOL. Jersey (CI) here. It was warm. But to be fair, he was going from the meeting to head for Med in his yacht, I believe

[Kay]

Jersey, yes, of course. Sorry, I'd noticed that before but had forgotten.

he was going from the meeting to head for Med in his yacht

Oooh nice! What's his phone number?

[nathan@mertongroup]

It's about the environment your in or the job that you do. I don't think suits are the be all and end all because they aren't a guarantee of looking smart. I'm not sure ties are that called for either, apparently the point of a tie is to stop your chain mail suit rubbing against your neck (pointless fact sorry).

I think just ironing your clothes and not looking too scruffy is about right. I did have a meeting once with a man covered in dog hair and from the aroma I'd guess he was a part time pooch wrestler. Worst meeting ever.

[am:pm graphics]

oh no...I've just finished a pint of coke

Can't say teeth sway it one way or the other for me

[Ralvin]

Oh, this is really interesting, because as someone with a broken front tooth since i was 12 i was actually going to have it fixed and i was thinking about going the whole hog and having them all smartened up. I was going to go for the slightly imperfect look, so not totally gleaming white and all ruler straight.

From what people have said here it looks like i am better off saving my money...