Ireland, rhythm and blues, and the thrill of being in a new band. Sounds like a perfect mix, right? They were all plot elements of the 1991 movie The Commitments, in which a group of scruffy people banded together to form a 1960s-style rock and soul revue in the unlikely city of Dublin.

During one of the band’s earliest practice sessions, the most experienced group member urged his bandmates to dress like their heroes (think Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, the Temptations) who wore suits onstage. His advice: “You always play better when you wear your suit.”

What does that mean in our day-to-day lives? I am not advocating that anyone wear a suit to work unless your role calls for it. That went out of style decades ago. But whatever job you do, dress right for the part. Even if you work from home, and I will say more about that later.

Early in my career I was between jobs and joined a club for others in job transition. The club leveraged the knowledge of its members and volunteers to train people in prospecting, resume writing, and interview preparation. One of the people I met there was a senior executive in financial services who lost his job when his employer was acquired by a competitor. In those days, financial services people wore suits and ties to work. A suit was this executive’s standard working uniform, and he told me that when he was doing research and job prospecting, he wore a suit. It was how he felt comfortable and ready for business. Putting on a suit got him into the mindset of potential employers; plus if he got a call for an interview that day, he was ready to go.

Since I primarily work from home, I have the luxury of dressing any way I want for work. My typical working uniform is business casual – khaki pants or jeans, button-down shirt, and shoes. I’d wear the same if I worked in an office. It helps me get into the role and keeps me focused. Similarly, I would be ready to roll out to a customer meeting.

If you are comfortable and productive in your job, dress for the part. You’ll play better when you are wearing the right suit for you.