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 aboutoffice outings and provided tips on being engaged to maximize theexperience.  The points were excellent and you can find them here, butone thing not addressed was what to wear.  Most of the time theseoutings are off-site, strictly casual and intended to remove you fromthe 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 alittle more casual than normal is fine, but still maintain some modicumof professionalism.  This is a company event after all, and while theintent 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 ifyour pants are too tight or your shirt is riding up. 

3.    Layers.  This is an extension of the comfort rule.  You will probably be bothinside and outside during the day getting hot then freezing in the airconditioning, so having a layer you can take on and off will help keepyou acclimatized and feeling ‘put together’, even if you are mentallyfrazzled with the wealth of information you are learning about yourcolleagues.

4.    Consider color connotation.  It is nogreat surprise that different colors invoke different emotions whenpeople see them.  It is part of the non-verbal communication aspect ofclothing.  For these events appearing friendly, approachable and a teamplayer are important, so I recommend the dominate colors in your outfitbe green (balance), pink (nurturing), blue (trust), orange (socialcommunication) or yellow (cheerfulness).

5.    Focus on connecting.  That was one of the tips from the Harvard Business Review that reallyencapsulates the goal behind teambuilding events, which is to develop astronger 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 andinappropriate office attire.  Wouldn’t that be fun and enlightening?