How others see you at work might surprise you
You are a thoughtful, confident, competent professional with a can-do attitude, and you’re certain that others see you this way, too. So, you’re more than surprised when chatter gets back to you that an employee in another department described you as being somewhat uncooperative and even a bit cold at times.
You wouldn’t be the first person surprised that the personality you thought you were putting out there for others to see wasn’t the one people were receiving. There’s actually a name for this misguided assumption: It’s called the transparency illusion — the belief that others can easily (and accurately) read your intentions.
You might be tempted to write this revelation off as the product of just one person’s opinion, but first consider whether you actually know that this is a unique perspective about your character.
You might also rationalize that since your performance has typically been stellar, you need not worry about outside perceptions of your personality. But when people consider whether to involve you in projects that could advance your career or bring personal fulfillment, can you trust that your performance will speak louder than your perceived attitude?
Asking for feedback
Digging into public perception of yourself can be quite uncomfortable. But asking tough questions (and being open to what may be some tough-to-take answers) can help you ensure that what you intend to portray is the same as what people around you perceive.
A 360-degree survey can be handy for this purpose. Choose a variety of individuals — direct reports, peers, and superiors — to ask questions about how you’re perceived. This type of survey typically keeps results anonymous, but you could instead choose to be more direct by asking individuals in person if you feel they would be comfortable giving you honest feedback.
Be sure to ask for examples of your behaviors, body language, or actual language that supports their perceptions, since you likely aren’t aware of what’s making you come across in a certain way.
Frame tough feedback as opportunity
Critical feedback about your character can be tough to take, so make a pointed effort to receive feedback as openly as you can without getting defensive.
Other people’s perceptions don’t change who you are on the inside, but they do provide you with an opportunity to figure out how to bring those perceptions back in line
with the self you want the world to see. Katie Loehrke is a certified Professional in Human Resources and an editor with J. J. Keller & Associates, a nationally recognized compliance resource firm. Loehrke specializes in employment law topics such as discrimination, privacy and social media, and affirmative action. She is the editor of J. J. Keller’s Employment Law Today newsletter and its Essentials of Employment Law manual. For more information, visit www.jjkeller.com/hr and www.jjkellerlibrary. com.