- Victor Ochieng’ argues that good grooming is an important soft skill learners should develop alongside academic and technical competence.
- He explains that school uniforms and institutional dress codes can promote discipline, identity, responsibility and a sense of belonging.
- Beyond school, he maintains that personal presentation can influence perceptions, professional image and access to employment opportunities.
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. In our conversation, he had a tremulous voice. Therefore, I detected he was an old man haply crowding 80s. We conferred with each other, and discussed details pertaining tenancy and occupancy. But I was shell-shocked when the landlord asked me whether I rear dreadlocks. He was clear like crystal. He does not accommodate tenants with dreadlocks. So, I wondered, what did such aspect of grooming had to do with tenancy and occupancy?
People Judge Us Based on Grooming
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 a bad attitude towards people with dreadlocks. My second thought is not only a speculation, but also a reality. Most people judge us by how we groom, which encompasses what we choose to do to our bodies and how we adorn. Then, the veracity of the matter is, society ostracises weirdos.
Essence and Uniqueness of Uniforms in Schools
Therefore, in the recent past, I cringed when I read that a certain student from a top-tier school in this country decided to petition Parliament over dreadlocks ban in schools. The teenager sought review of school regulation that prohibit learners from wearing dreadlocks. Arguing that the policy infringes on cultural identity, personal freedom and constitutional rights. But did the learner pose and think, every school has a way it expects learners to groom. The way learners groom is part and parcel of school culture and tradition. So, 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.
Then, the petition about dreadlock ban in schools points us to the reason educators should strive to 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, rude and recalcitrant students refuse to clad in proper school uniform or to look appropriate as spelt out in policy framework. 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.
Good Grooming is a Soft Skill
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.
Decent Dress Code Entices Opportunities
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 a 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.”
Why Memos on Decent Dress Code?
Now, you know, why also, universities and colleges, through memos, are strict edicts instructing students to be prone to decency in their dress code. Albeit, this does not augur well to a section of students who feel that the raft of rules pertaining grooming are out of date and fashion. They also feel that varsity arrowheads are becoming high-handed for no good reason. Yet, again, only disobedient and recalcitrant students and staff dress in a manner they like. Meaning, total adherence to decency is the be-all and end-all. Failure to do so, students or staff become undisciplined people.
Decency and Discipline at Workplace
Arguably, students who break college rules also proceed to parade indiscipline at the workplace. For good grooming is a useful soft skill. It positions job seekers to be both valuable and employable. Colleges mostly focus on hard skills or technical skills. They issue certificate after graduation (commencement ceremonies) to symbolise acquisition of hard skills or hard skills. In these climes and times, we experience high rates of unemployment among young adults due to serious skills-gap. They seal this yawning gap through upskilling.
Upskilling: Good Grooming
Meaning, for graduates to be tick for employment that brings enjoyment, they need a cocktail of useful skills: Hard skills, soft skills, cognitive 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 degree of thoughtfulness, 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 you are going out for a date with your nearest dearest.
Raft of Rules for Comrades in Colleges and Universities
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 not aware 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. 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.
Dress for Success; People Address You How You Dress
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 opportunities in this wide old world. 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.
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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. For men prone to pogonotrophy, the hairstyle they choose to keep should be neat and clean. Facial hair should be well-groomed, kempt. Conversely, 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. He rolls out Upskilling Programmes for comrades in colleges and universities. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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