Turns out there is some very good news for those of us who spend over half our salaries on expensive and extravagant shoes—it makes us more competent at our jobs. Well, if we're being honest, it makes us appear more competent to our colleagues that is, and therefore more likely to get those coveted promotions. Confused? Allow us to explain.
According to a blog on the Association for Psychological Science, instead of trying to fit in with your office's dress code, going against the grain can totally work in your favour. Think about Mark Zuckerberg, for example, who wears jeans and a T-shirt, even though he's the head of one of the biggest tech companies in the world. He stands out because, despite his seniority, he refuses to dress in a more formal manner.
So how does it actually work and why? In a study by Harvard psychological scientists Silvia Bellezza, Francesca Gino, and Anat Keinan, intentionally standing out from the crowd can convey being more powerful in terms of status, confidence and power. The phenomenon is known as the “red sneaker effect.”
Speaking to NPR, the researchers said that to create this for yourself, it has to be very deliberate. Essentially, whatever you're wearing has to be eye-catching. Study author Keinan said: “It could just be wearing a colourful tie, or colourful socks or, you know, different shoes. It has to be very clear that it’s deliberate.”
As deliberate as a pair of Gucci's new metallic leather sandals, we think. Keep scrolling to shop some of our favourite wow shoes right now.
What do you do to make yourself feel confident at work? Tell us in the comments!
Opening Image: Christian Vierig/Getty Images
