Google techie says dressing up while working from home boosts focus, authority: 'Looking the part matters'

Anchal Mirza explained that she personally performs better when she is more formally dressed, whether she is physically present at the office or working remotely.

A senior manager at Google says maintaining a professional appearance — even while working from home — has helped her remain focused, productive and confident in a demanding corporate environment.

Anchal Mirza, 36, who lives in a suburb outside Philadelphia, works in strategy and operations linked to the company’s data-centre optimisation and efficiency initiatives. Her role forms part of a hybrid arrangement in which she travels to New York City for two days each week and spends the rest of her working time at home.

Speaking to Business Insider about her experience, Mirza said the technology sector generally has a relaxed approach to workplace attire.

“Most Big Tech companies have a pretty casual dress code. The joke is that everybody's wearing a Patagonia vest, jeans, and sneakers,” she said.

Despite that culture, Mirza explained that she personally performs better when she is more formally dressed, whether she is physically present at the office or working remotely.

“But I find that I work best when I'm a little more dressed up — whether I'm in the office or working from home,” she said. “When I look the part, I feel more productive, motivated, and overall, successful.”

Mirza’s role focuses on strategy and operational planning connected to improving the performance and efficiency of Google’s data centres.

Following her family’s relocation to the Philadelphia suburbs, she adopted a hybrid schedule that requires regular travel to the company’s New York office while allowing her to complete the rest of her work remotely.

Before the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mirza attended the office daily. Even then, she said her team relied heavily on video meetings.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked in the office every day. Even then, my team was very video-heavy and meeting-oriented,” she said. “Our campuses are quite large, so being camera-ready has always been normal for me.”

When employees were instructed to work from home in 2020, Mirza said she deliberately maintained the same professional appearance she had in the office.

“When everyone was directed to work from home in 2020, it was important to me that, at least appearance-wise, I maintained the same aesthetic I had in the office,” she said. “I did my makeup and wore at least a nice top.”

Mirza believes that continuing this routine allowed her to project the same presence during online meetings that she had previously displayed in person.

“Doing so helped me feel like I had the same presence and authority as I did in the office. I was able to command the digital room and assert my thoughts,” she said. “Some of that was probably just a placebo, but in that first week, I didn't skip a beat.”

Initially, Mirza limited the effort to visible items such as makeup or a presentable top, but she eventually decided to maintain a complete professional outfit even while working from home.

“I equated it to looking the part,” she said. “As time went on, I thought, ‘OK, I can do the whole outfit. There's no difference. It's just putting on the pants now.’”

A minimalist wardrobe

Mirza said a carefully organised wardrobe makes the process straightforward and reduces time spent deciding what to wear.

“What really helps is having a minimalist wardrobe,” she explained. “Everything in my closet is neutral, so I know each piece will go together.”

The approach, she said, eliminates the need to spend time matching colours or styles.

“If I pick a white pair of slacks, I have 20 cream sweaters I can choose from that will look good,” she said. “There are no outlandish colors that I'm trying to mix and match. My system helps reduce decision fatigue in the morning.”

On days when she is working remotely and appearing on video calls, Mirza said certain aspects of preparation take priority.

“And sometimes, the outfit comes second,” she said. “It's all personal preference, but when I'm working remotely and am on camera, the bare minimum is having my makeup done.”

She added that maintaining a presentable appearance on camera can be sufficient even if the rest of the outfit is relatively simple.

“I can probably get away with not wearing a really nice outfit as long as my face feels put together,” she said.

Mirza also acknowledged that she does not always devote time to styling her hair in detail.

“I don't necessarily have the patience to do my hair every morning,” she said. “I can pin it, clip it, tie it, and for the most part, it looks presentable.”

She also relies on a few consistent accessories to complete the look.

“There are also basic pieces of jewelry that I will wear every day,” she said. “Even with a simple outfit, it helps me feel like I've put in more effort.”

Confidence linked to productivity

Mirza believes that this routine has played a role in helping her progress professionally in the years since remote working became common.

“We've come a long way since the pandemic, and I've been able to grow my career since then,” she said. “I think it's all part of this mindset shift that comes with looking the part.”

According to Mirza, the act of getting ready each morning has become a psychological signal that the workday has begun.

“When I'm dressed up, I definitely feel more productive,” she said. “I'm also more efficient. I'm almost pavloving myself. Getting dressed and putting on makeup signals to my brain that it's time to work and that I'm going to get everything on my to-do list done.”

Mirza added that maintaining confidence through personal presentation can be particularly valuable for women in the technology industry.

“As a woman working in tech and in predominantly male spaces, to have that extra boost of confidence is really important,” she said.