Brian Maynor July 11, 2013

By Brian Maynor

July 11, 2013

 

Last week I saw a great clip from The Harvard Business Review that talked about office outings and provided tips on being engaged to maximize the experience.  The points were excellent and you can find them here, but one thing not addressed was what to wear.  Most of the time these outings are off-site, strictly casual and intended to remove you from the normal work environment.  Here are my ideas and suggestions for what to wear to your next office outing:

1.    Casual does not mean ‘casual’.  These outings generally include some physical activity, so dressing a little more casual than normal is fine, but still maintain some modicum of professionalism.  This is a company event after all, and while the intent is to share with your coworkers, tank tops and cut-offs may share a bit too much.

2.    Comfort is a priority.  This is not something I usually say, but during these outings it is crucial you are comfortable.  Chances are you will be out of your element participating in group-activities, so the last thing you want to worry about is if your pants are too tight or your shirt is riding up. 

3.    Layers.  This is an extension of the comfort rule.  You will probably be both inside and outside during the day getting hot then freezing in the air conditioning, so having a layer you can take on and off will help keep you acclimatized and feeling ‘put together’, even if you are mentally frazzled with the wealth of information you are learning about your colleagues.

4.    Consider color connotation.  It is no great surprise that different colors invoke different emotions when people see them.  It is part of the non-verbal communication aspect of clothing.  For these events appearing friendly, approachable and a team player are important, so I recommend the dominate colors in your outfit be green (balance), pink (nurturing), blue (trust), orange (social communication) or yellow (cheerfulness).

5.    Focus on connecting.  That was one of the tips from the Harvard Business Review that really encapsulates the goal behind teambuilding events, which is to develop a stronger connection with your peers and enhance your work environment.

Participation may be mandatory, but the value is only limited by your investment.  Who knows you may even have a session to talk about pet peeves and inappropriate office attire.  Wouldn’t that be fun and enlightening?