Lanyards around your neck. I don’t know where the idea came from to have a neck lanyard to hold keys or name badges, but they are a great accessory for many people. Corporate security policies dictate that each employee wear an identification badge and what greater way to meet the policy than slipping a lanyard around your neck and attaching your name badge to it. Security is happy that you are easily identified and you are happy to meet the policy and not damage your clothes by sticking a pin or clipping something to your shirt.

Neck lanyards can also be a fashion accessory and many online as well as brick and mortar business sell a variety of beaded lanyards in varying colors and eye-catching, sparkling beads.  With these beautiful lanyards the librarian look with the black shoestring holding your reading glasses around neck is gone forever.  Only imagination, money and chutzpah will keep you from displaying your individuality and fashion sense with as many different attractive beaded lanyards that set you apart from your co-workers.

It’s interesting that the same thing designed to show corporate conformity and inclusiveness can be turned into a way to show creativity and individuality with a little thought and desire to be different.   While some workplaces will embrace the freedom to be different, while meeting the “spirit of the policy” others will not approve and require the same neck lanyard be worn as everyone else is wearing. Fortunately lanyards come in a plethora of colors and strap materials and with a little coaxing or even a well placed suggestion at the company picnic, colorfuil lanyards can improve the style and look of the corporate name badge.

Artie Sand is a conformist with libertarian tendencies and neck lanyards show that off.