Tattoos -- Yay or Nay?

Question

I have visible tattoos. Fortunately, I work for a company that has a casual dress code and promotes bringing your true self to work. That said, I am in a leadership position and often find myself thinking twice about wearing clothes that cover my tattoos. If my company doesn't mind, should I even worry about it? Any thoughts on if my tattoos being visible takes away from my credibility as a leader?

Six Figure Salary Coach · Answer

May I ask how old you are? I totally understand what you're talking about about in regards to tattoos! But I also think that that is a more old school way of thinking. I believe the work place is starting to transform. Workplaces used to be very rigid and cut-and-dry. They are now becoming more open, inclusive and collaborative.

I personally don't think that tattoos undermines your leadership qualities. Now of course, we cannot prevent people from 'judging a book by its cover' . But if you're effective at your job that is absolutely the only thing that matters!

Georgene Huang · Answer

My instinct is to answer your question with another question. How much do you think 'leadership credibility' is about what other people think of you? While I understand that the word leadership is a fuzzy concept, I have always leaned towards the idea that leadership has no gender, has no particular personality type and has no particular style. There are tropes and stereotypes of what leadership looks like and sounds like (and yes, maybe those traditional notions do not include tattoos). But they also include things like power suits or high heels and makeup and extroversion. I think there are a tremendous number of leaders who do not fit into those molds and it's important that you know that and are proud of the type of leader you are!

Ruzana Glaeser · Answer

I actually think it's more about you and how you carry yourself, than what kind of body piercings, tattoos or clothes you wear.

If you have to think twice about exposing your tattoos, I am going to take a stab and assume that if they are visible, your are spending some of your mental energy and consciously wondering about what that does to your credibility.

I am a business professional, and I have worked with plenty of people who have visible tattoos but lead with confidence, as well as plenty well-suited men who couldn't tell what leadership is if it hit them in the face.

Visible tattoos are totally fine in any profession, as long as you are confident! Your confidence tends to project!!!

Anonymous · Answer

I’m so glad you posted this! This is a touchy subject for me.  I several visible tattoos, none of which are offensive. I have been in a leadership role in the past and didn’t have a problem with my tattoos at all. The company culture embraced diversity and inclusion and they didn’t care if you had tattoos, or magenta hair, or piercings.  Though, I’m sure if someone has an offensive tattoo, they’d have to cover it.

Fast forward to my current position. I’m not a supervisor. I’m just a low woman on the totem pole. The irony is this business is owned by women, yet their culture is very restrictive when it comes to dress codes. Heck, the women here had to wear panty hose with dresses just two years ago! They finally changed the policy. So, I guess it’s no surprise that they do not allow visible tattoos (except one very small one), no piercings, or wildly colored hair. Although it’s a business casual dress environment, I find this an old school and restrictive mentality. I was unaware of this policy when I took the position, or I would’ve declined it. I have six tattoos, three of which are quite large and visible. I feel like I am repressing a part of myself and my personality by having to cover my tattoos.

Personally, I think it’s stuffy and repressive to have these policies in place. It’s 2019, for crying out loud. I understand if you are a company that has clients and whatnot, but the company is limiting talent by having these policies. Some of the most brilliant people have tattoos, piercings, etc. Maybe it's where I'm located right now. The Midwest seems to have a different mentality about things than I'm used to (this is a generalization, and I realize that and I'm not trying to be inflammatory, just an observation).

Anonymous · Answer

I agree that leadership is from within and how you treat people. Great leaders come in all sizes, shapes and yes, tattoos. I doubt if anyone would mind, and it might even spark a casual conversation that might not have otherwise happened.

But I do have one caveat. If there is any part of a visible tattoo that is offensive, sexual, violent or otherwise  inappropriate for work, that's an issue. It could be a distraction at the least, or it could be intimidating or threatening enough to shut down someone from approaching you.  It would be like wearing an inappropriate/offensive T-shirt to work, only permanently.

And it could be a stumbling block for someone looking for Leadership Credibility.

Tattoos -- Yay or Nay?

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