Where have all the business clothes gone? Unless you’re in law (dressed) or high-tech (not very dressed), the rules run the gamut. As a matter of fact, there are no rules. There are no working hours, as well, come to think of it.

I had someone suggest that I apply for a job a while back. Way overqualified, but it was an interesting proposition from a variety of aspects, and a stone’s throw from me, so no major commute. Plus, plus, plus. A friend of a friend insisted this would be the perfect fit. I imagined that I could fit it in and possibly telecommute a couple of days per week.

Submitting the required documents, the powers that be were blown away. I would take their Office to a whole new level by my very presence… if I might humbly say so, lol. Only one sticking point they e-mailed, very aware of my jet-setting lifestyle: did I understand that I would need to be in the office each day from 8:30-5:00 pm?

Suddenly, I felt as though I were an entry-level typist from long ago. That was a new one!

I knew for a fact that, most days, their employees were anywhere but in the office! Yet work culture has become so confused that principals in corporations say one thing and do another.

Very similar with work attire. What kind of work settings actually have Dress Guidelines these days, or dress guidelines that are followed? What ensures that someone not wear whatever they wore to bed the night before?

And would that matter?

The rule is, there are no rules. Nobody wants any rules. There’s always somebody pushing the rules, testing the boundaries. More headaches. Without any rules? Anarchy or figuring it out for yourself.

In my opinion, productivity goes down, flies out the window along with the suit-and-tie culture.

All I’m saying is: be specific. Have clear expectations. Help people out, so that they can focus on what really matters.

Which is getting stuff done.

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