Susan Boyle Didn’t Look The Part. Do You?

A Lesson In Human Nature

I love the Susan Boyle story.

A frumpy looking middle aged woman steps nervously on the stage for her Britain’s Got Talent audition and Simon the judge asks her a question.

Her awkward answer draws snickers from the audience while she appears to be totally out of her element. 

At this point, you can believe that Simon already has his finger on the X button and the boo birds are getting ready to chirp.

It’s safe to say that many people watching live were embarrassed for her. That, of course, changed once Susan opened her mouth.

The look of surprise on the faces of the judges and cheers from the audience were enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Everybody loves an underdog! And she filled that role perfectly.

Can You Judge A Book By Its Cover?

While she certainly didn’t look the part, Susan’s singing voice was so beautiful, and her performance so unexpectedly moving, it shocked the judges and viewers worldwide.

It also made many people feel guilty that they had been so quick to judge her enormous talent, based merely on her poor choice of clothes, hairdo and make-up.

Just seconds after Susan finished, Amanda, the nice judge, said right to Susan’s face, “I am so thrilled (at your great performance) because I know everybody was against you.”

What she didn’t say was, “Because of the way you dressed.”

Print columnists and talking heads on television rushed to criticize society in general. Are people so shallow that we judge everyone by their appearance? Before they even have had a chance to prove themselves?

The simple answer is yes.  Humans are conditioned to make quick judgments.

And, this trait has some not so surprising implications for how your patients see and judge you.

Humans Are Wired To Make Snap Judgments

In his very entertaining book, Blink, author Malcolm Gladwell explains the concept of ‘rapid cognition’.

When you meet someone for the first time, or walk into a house you are thinking of buying, or read the first few sentences of a book, your mind takes about two seconds to jump to a series of conclusions.

Visual Cues Lead To Many Assumptions

No matter how open-minded you try to be, this process is automatic and your first impressions are largely involuntary.

A positive response is generally tied to how consistent your observation is to what you expect to see, hear or experience.

For example, Susan Boyle didn’t dress, didn’t act, and certainly didn’t look like a polished entertainer. At least until she started to sing.

And now to the point of this blog.

I want you to keep in mind that your patients, especially the new ones, will make instant judgments about you, and your skills as a doctor, based solely on your personal appearance and attire.

Everyone does it. They can’t help it. It’s the way humans are made.

Make Human Nature Work For You

Can a good doctor overcome a sloppy appearance with a charming chairside manner?

Absolutely! Susan did it with a stunning performance. But why put yourself at a disadvantage to start with?

In my opinion, many optometrists miss the opportunity to make a better first impression because they don’t dress up enough.

Yes, I know. The dress code of the work world has gotten much more casual. Me included. But many of your patients still have high expectations for their healthcare providers.

Case in point, my wife goes to a retinal specialist at the Mayo Clinic near our home in Jacksonville, Florida.

Practicing in a modern facility and one of the most prestigious medical settings in the world, Dr. Stewart could probably get away with dressing a little more casual.

But, he chooses to wear a coat and tie. Maybe it’s clinic policy. Whatever the reason, he looks the part and so do the other ophthalmologists in his department.

Do You Look The Part Of A Doctor?

Is it really necessary to wear a coat and tie in the office?

No.

But, you do need to dress to a certain level if you want to meet your patients’ expectations for how a successful eye doctor or optical professional should look.

Don’t do it for me. Do it for the patients who haven’t known you long enough to appreciate the excellent level of care you provide.

Click here to watch Susan’s inspiring performance.