Have you experienced being misjudged by other people? Have you ever thought about how others should see and know you? The way we see and interpret others can affect the way we understand their personality. We often get assumptions of our character from those we do not know, but on certain instances, even from those we already know.
If you are keeping a reputation just like high profile leaders do, you must have cared about it a lot. But even if you are just an ordinary person or a typical employee in your company, it is important to project a pleasing character so that others will have a good perception about you.
Question arises as to why do we have to be concerned about other people’s perceptions? We interact with people every single day. Sometimes, we become what other people think of us. There are tendencies wherein we would allow other people’s perception of us to control our actions and our way of thinking and if you think about it, it should not be case because we should follow our own thoughts and beliefs.
Wrong perception can turn into undesirable outcomes such as gossips, backbiting, and destructive criticism. This can be a probable cause of paranoia. You start to think that people always talk about you behind your back. If you do not do something about it, no one else will be the victim of that situation but you. Gradually, you are destroying your own reputation without even attempting to bring yourself up.
Knowing Yourself before Others Do
A very important point in managing people’s perception is to understand yourself first and find out how people perceive you. Make a personal assessment of yourself by spending some time alone and identify your weak and strong points, good and undesirable habits, as well as your character. Create an inner connection with yourself. The better you know yourself, the more confident you are in dealing with people.
Next is to learn how others perceive you. This can be done through asking questions and soliciting feedback from those you know and trust. Although there are more formal tools to use, an informal approach will suffice. Be cautious of your own reactions as you will not be getting all favorable feedback from others. Take note of their views and find out why they perceive you to be as such.
The Do’s and Don’ts in Perception Management
We all know it is not easy to please everyone, more so changing the way they perceive us. Once you create an impression, they stick to that impression of you until you do something that will change the way they see you. Here are some tips in managing people’s perceptions:
Do’s:
1. Know yourself completely.
2. Be sensitive to the effect of your behavior toward other people.
3. Understand reactions from others through their verbal and nonverbal cues.
4. Be an attentive listener and be forgiving all of the time.
5. Always make it a habit to communicate openly.
6. Learn to be patient in the things you do.
7. Encourage feedback from those you value, but be careful not to appear demanding of their opinions.
Don’ts:
1. Reacting negatively to not-so-good remarks about you
2. Being defensive of yourself
3. Setting your expectations too high
4. Displaying annoying behavior
5. Showing lack of motivation and positivity
6. Annoying people with feedback about you all the time
The Impacts of a Good Perception
When people have a good perception of you, it holds many benefits to you. Trust is easily built and respect is gained. When they perceive that you have a positive outlook in life, you create an impression. It is easy to convince or persuade people with your ideas.
In general, people see you as someone with a desirable personality and would like to be in your company. When you leave that positive impression of people about you, you become more comfortable with your actions, and feel more at ease dealing with others.
Furthermore, you may even create good relationships or increase the bond you have built with those you trust. Having a good perception from people can help you grow and mature in your endeavors, personally and professionally.
