SBM ITB welcomed Sukmayanti Ranadireksa, M.Psi (Psikolog) to a guest lecture session to share about business etiquettes. Other than presenting the lecture, the CEO of Prakarsa Daya Motekar, often called Anti, also evaluates the business attire of some students and gives input on what to improve.
Anti started the session by presenting pictures of several people, then asked the students’ impressions of those people. The appraisal that the students give, according to Anti, happens because we tend to judge others, both consciously or not, as a part of human nature. Anti also emphasizes that judgment will happen both ways when we meet people. Thus, we shouldn’t be afraid of getting judged, nor should we take it personally.
“There is a saying that goes, ‘do not judge a book by its cover,’ and I agree. However, what you all just did was judge the people on the photos based on their cover. Since we work in a field that requires us to meet important people, such as investors, our cover is critical. That is why we should pay attention to the way we dress,” said Anti.
However, Anti also provides advice for the students not to be so fixated on outer appearance. “Don’t get into trouble trying to have a good first impression. Focus on making yourself a good and professional person; it’ll show without you even trying,” added Anti.
Anti also corrected the misconception people often get about etiquette, such as suppressing, image-making, wasting time, or even fake. Essentially, etiquette is a provision of manners that humans use to interact and get along. It is rooted in kindness and mutual respect. Anti used dress code as an example.
“There are many people who felt bothered by dress code. If there is no dress code in an event, there would be various outfits: batik, shirts, suits. The one who wears suits would seem more dignified than the others. Therefore, to make everyone stands on equal footing, dress codes are used,” explained Anti.