4 Reasons Why I Feel Invincible at Work Wearing Polo-Tees (And Why It Matters to You)
Hint: Mind over matter
No, it is not that polos are cheaper than superhero capes.
I wish that that is the real reason I buy polos over suits. The truth is, I buy polos for business purposes.
And I wear them from Mondays to Fridays because they put me in a good state of mind.
Comfort Puts Me in My A-Game
Unless the occasion calls for the formal 3-piece suit — I stick to my polos.
Here’s why.
I’m always on the move. In Singapore, where it is 30–34 Degrees Celsius all year long, having sweat patches all over my formal shirt makes me look bad.
And polos absorb sweat.
(Thank God for that)
That’s one.
Next, I run product and consulting workshops in my 9–5. That means I move a lot within a confined space.
- I take the lectern.
- I check on group exercises.
- I take questions from the floor.
- I have big hand gestures.
- I shift desks.
Business shirts restrict my movements. It is not the fault of the formal wear.
I just cannot stay still. Of course, in a deal pitch, I must. On other client-based occasions, nope.
My best client feedback(s) comes from delivering work in ways that suit me best. That happens when I express myself without any form of restrictions.
I feel invincible in that mode.
Comfort is Confidence
Confidence is a psychological game.
I interact a lot with clients. It matters that I project confidence, and they have confidence in me.
Imagine this.
You are on stage, ready for a 7-digit deal pitch. You start and end with confidence, knowing that you have covered everything you want to. You finish on time, too.
You think you nailed it.
That’s right. You think you nailed it.
Your client was paying attention to your pitch… until you started fidgeting. From that moment onwards, their eyes turned to… you.
- They noticed that you were rotating your neck every 2 minutes (maybe the collar got sticky due to sweat)
- They saw your right hand was pointing at the screen and your left hand unbuttoning your suit.
- They witnessed you loosening your tie.
Clients are sensitive people. They want to work with confident consultants, vendors, and partners.
They are looking for clues, obvious or subtle, telling them this guy has done this a million times.
The moment they start thinking…
- Man, this guy doesn’t sound very convincing.
- He fidgets a lot when answering my question. Is he spinning?
- He looks at his attire and not us. Is he trying to pull a fast one?
… you are out of the game.
And so, I say this.
Err on the side of comfort. The more comfortable you are, the more confident you become.
The more confident you become, the more confident your clients become.
One leads to two. Two leads to three.
Comfort Supports Deep Breathing
And deep breathing supports clarity in thinking.
According to this article,
Deep breathing (sometimes called diaphragmatic breathing) is a practice that enables more air to flow into your body and can help calm your nerves, reducing stress and anxiety. It can also help you improve your attention span and lower pain levels.
And this is (exactly) what you need in a stressful event.
Such events include,
- Interactive workshops with many participants,
- When you are justifying the budget for the year,
- Keynote addresses during corporate events.
Breathing deep allows you to be quick on your feet, mentally and physically.
You think way better when you are comfortable.
Focus Follows Comfort
This is straightforward.
There are many moving pieces in business. Questions from Client A, emails from Client B, emergency calls from Client C, and so on.
Focus allows us to prioritize issues and break down complex problems. Not only that. It demonstrates unwavering presence, too.
Presence can be reflected in the following ways.
- Eye contact.
- Active listening.
- Keeping distractions at bay.
We zip into our best selves, in our professional decorum, better and faster when we are comfortable. If you don’t believe me, try doing the above in military uniform.
You can’t.
Of course, this is not a problem for seasoned veterans or soldiers. They are used to it.
For the majority of us? Nope.
The material is thick and unbreathable. It remains stiff no matter how frequently you send it to the laundry. Put a beret on your head, and a pair of boots on your feet, and you lose all will to think, focus, and live.
That is another extreme example, of course.
But my point remains.
Stay comfortable.
It is your superpower.
Parting Keynotes
This article is not about polo-tees, per se.
And I do not make any commissions on polos.
This article is about developing our psychological superpowers. It is about our,
- A-Game,
- Confidence,
- Clarity in thinking,
- Focus.
We can achieve the above by working on small, little, controllable things.
For me, it is about wearing polos to work.
What about you?
As a content contributor, I write my daily life observations and business exposure. Our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.