In the recent past, I decided to scout for a place to set up Penman Office and Centre somewhere outside Nairobi Town. So, I located a spacious, accessible, secure and nice edifice, office space off Ngong Road at Dagoretti Corner.
The security guard shared the contacts of the landlord, an old man who was crowding 80s. I talked to the landlord and discussed details pertaining tenancy or occupancy. But I was shell-shocked when the landlord asked me whether I rear dreadlocks.
Meaning, in case I had dreadlocks, I would not have been allowed to be a tenant there. So, I wondered what such aspect of grooming had to do with tenancy or occupancy. Then, in my silent moments of soul-searching, I thought: Haply, the landlord must have been at loggerheads with a certain tenant who reared dreadlocks.
Or maybe, the landlord just had an attitude about people with dreadlocks. My second thought is not a delusion, but a reality. Most people judge us by how we groom, which encompasses what we choose to do to our bodies and how we adorn. The reality is, the society ostracises weirdos.
Therefore, in the recent past, I cringed when I read that a certain student from a top school in this country decided to petition Parliament over dreadlocks ban in schools. The teenager sought review of school regulation that prohibits learners from wearing dreadlocks. Arguing that the policy infringes on cultural identity, personal freedom and constitutional rights.
Ideally, every school has a way it expects learners to groom. The way learners groom is part and parcel of school culture and tradition. Great schools anchor on culture and tradition installed by the famous founders and pioneering principals such as the Mathematician Edward Carey Francis and author Geoffrey William Griffin.
In case you dig deep to unearth colour of uniforms or manner of adornment, you will discover the uniqueness and initial purpose of some schools. We even have reasons in some schools, girls do not wear neck ties. Or why boys adorn in shorts in lower forms and wear certain types of shoes.
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Then, the petition about dreadlock ban in schools points us to the reason we should make learners understand the essence of good grooming. More so, adorning proper uniform and being careful about their looks in school and beyond. In a book titled HR Practice – A Rear View, Dr. Salome Gitoho has something to say about the uniqueness of uniforms clad in different settings.
So, as we compel students to adhere to every ambit of school rules and regulations, we should always spare some time, and make them know that uniforms ideally spell out order, authority, discipline, respect, security, equity and responsibility.
Meaning, only undisciplined and rude students refuse to clad in proper school uniform or look appropriate as spelt out. Moreover, unique uniforms point out uniformity of thought and support. By sameness in dress code and looks, people take care of their own. They protect and build their brand type. Uniforms give them a sure sense of belonging, ownership, pride and prestige.
Put aptly, good grooming is learnt in school. My stance as a scribe is, good grooming is useful in school and beyond. No wonder, while I was a teenager at Nyamninia Secondary School at Yala, in Gem of Siaya, our two Deputy Principals at different times – Messrs. Fred Moyi and James Okwemba, ensured that our school uniform, white shirts and green pair of trousers remained sacred. There was no debate about shaving style as part of good grooming. For the soft skill of good grooming while at school positions students for success in school and beyond.
On this, I dote on a heroic book titled Happy at Work by Jim Donovan. He talks of a mild-mannered man who hired a local home-improvement contractor. Tom, a well-cultured contactor, arrived in a clean, cool van. He looked clean and kempt. He was also clad in clean, smartly-pressed uniform.
It had a conspicuous company logo embroidered on the shirt pocket. Somehow, his dress code alone made him seal the deal. Why? Because he evinced an image of a serious successful professional. Progressively, Tom secured several referrals and acceptances related to his work. He accessed success because he obeyed the wise words of movie mogul, Darryl Zanuk, who advised, “Never seal a deal with a man or woman who is poorly dressed.”
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Now, you know, why also, in the recent past, some universities, through memos, issued strict edicts instructing students to be prone to decency in their dress code. Albeit, this did not augur well to a section of students who felt that some of the raft of rules pertaining grooming were out of date. They also felt that varsity arrowheads were becoming high-handed for no good reason.
Yet, again, only disobedient and recalcitrant students and staff dress in a manner that is anathema. Meaning, total adherence to decency is the be-all and end-all. Failure to do so, students or staff become undisciplined people.
Arguably, students who break college rules also proceed to parade indiscipline in the world of work. For good grooming is a useful soft skill. It is also a soft skill that makes job seekers to be both valuable and employable. Colleges mostly focus on hard skills or technical skills. They issue certificate after commencement ceremonies to symbolise core-competencies categorised as hard skills.
Today, there is a high rate of unemployment among young adults due to serious skills-gap. They seal this yawning gap through upskilling. Meaning, for graduates to be tick for employment that brings enjoyment, they need a cocktail of useful skills: Hard skills, soft skills, employability skills, transferable skills, 21st century skills, life skills, people skills, work skills, et cetera.
Moreover, students should know that the way people dress sends signals about their mindsets and self-image. Dressing says a lot about people’s comportment and composure. In the distant past, Japanese believed in three powers: Firstly, there was the power of jewel, a symbol of money. Secondly, there was the power of the sword, an emblem of military. Then, thirdly, there was power of the mirror, standing for self-image. This was the most preponderant power.
Again, when I sat to weave these wise words, I learnt something worth writing about when I listened to a didactic audio by Dennis Waitley titled The Psychology of Winning. He was contending that we improve our self-image not only when we dress to impress, but also when we adhere to courtesy, decency, modesty, moderation and professionalism. We should dress to match the demands of the occasion. It is utterly wrong to attend lectures in pajamas. Or attend a church service dressed as if we are going out for a date.
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Consequently, now, you know why management of some institutions warn male students not to rear dreadlocks, plait hair and wear earrings. Or to swagger with bare chests and untucked shirts. By the same token, their female counterparts receive warnings not to wear tops exposing their navels, bellies, boobs or backs. Skirts should not be scanty. In lieu, they should slightly stretch below the knee.
They should not exaggerate slits on skirts. No lass should become crass by exposing acres of her body to the public. Institutions do not allow see-through dresses and body-tight trousers. This is in order because some questionable dress codes promote aberrant behaviour and obscenity.
As I see it, university and college educators should also advise comrades not to tattoo their bodies like tree trunks. Or pierce their bodies like bullet-ridden walls. They should also condemn body bleaching. Some young adults mutilate their bodies without the gift of foresight. For some students are oblivious that such silly practices may have a boomerang effect on them.
Later in life, such ridiculous decisions may become an egg on the face. For instance, think of a job-seeker failing an interview in future because of the interviewers’ twisted attitude towards a job seeker who is tattoo-tinged. Or being denied the office space due to bad grooming.
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Then, I am told that during military and police recruitment exercises, candidates with tattoos can miss highly-coveted chances. So, students who want to rear dreadlocks should also try to ascertain people’s general perception on such. Somehow, students should focus on self-re-invention: Building brands with brilliance.
Actually, when it comes to dress code, we should never dress the way we want. In fact, students in school should know that they are preparing for world of work. No wonder, they should dress for success. Therefore, only a purposeless person chants slogans such as “my dress, my choice”.
Or dresses like a large scale farmer of bhang. somewhat, when it comes to people’s perception towards us, they address us the way we dress. It cascades to the soft skill of personal branding and good grooming.
Furthermore, while advising students that yearn to be journalists in future, Swaleh Mdoe, a veteran journalist at Citizen TV writes in his book titled TV News Anchoring: A Professional Guide to News Casting, men should be clean-shaven.
The hairstyle a man chooses to keep should be neat and clean. In case a man chooses to have facial hair, it should be well-groomed, kempt. Withal, bushy chin-beard is only for rock stars and artists, and not for serious professionals such as news anchors.
Finally, allow me dote my argument on another page-turner by Jim Donovan. In Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck, he shares the engrossing story of an insurance salesman who would buy designer suits in a consignment store, wear them a couple of times, and then resell them on e-Bay. That practice enabled him to dress for success. He endeared himself on potential clients. He flicked an image of a serious and successful person. In turn, he made more moolah.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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