My staff hates wearing the booth uniforms I choose for them at shows. How can I sidestep their dissatisfaction?

They probably don’t hate the uniforms as much as they dislike not having any say in how they are selected. While it might seem like you’re making more work for yourself when you include your staff in the selection process, they will often be able to point out any potential pitfalls that make uniforms such an unpleasant part of your exhibiting program. For example, your staff may be able to tell you the sizing is off, the cut’s unflattering, or the material is too hot for the sometimes-stuffy trade show floor.

So before picking out your staff’s clothing, make a list of all of the aspects they can have a say in. For example, if it’s possible to accessorize the uniforms, allow staff a choice of items to personalize the ensemble, such as sweaters or shoes. If you want staffers to dress in your company’s colors, the hues may be non-negotiable. But if you’ve got some wiggle room concerning color, you may wish to offer them a selection of color schemes and permit them to choose one they find flattering.

With your list of negotiables in hand, convene pre-show meetings where you discuss and vote on these aspects until you have all agreed on the choice of uniform. While, realistically, there’s no way everyone will absolutely love the outfit you settle on, by including your staff in the process, you should find they’ll, well, uniformly accept the dress code and complain about it less.e