Impression Management: What a First Impression Says About You
http://www.careerfeed.net/articles/11420/1/Impression-Management-What-a-First-Impression-Says-About-You/Page1.html
John Berling Hardy
John Berling Hardy is a sought after business consultant, author, speaker and originator of "The Hidden Game"; a strategic plan to increase the success of your personal and professional life. To learn more about John and to download his free ebooks, visit http://www.johnberlinghardy.com By John Berling Hardy
Published on 01/19/2010
The key to success in any game is to be able to influence, or control, events so that they fall in one's favor. To this end, the Player's modus operandi is to achieve and maintain leverage over their opponent. Just like holding the higher ground in a battle, leverage helps the Player to maintain the upper hand in the relationship.
The key to success in any game is to be able to influence, or control, events so that they fall in one's favor. To this end, the Player's modus operandi is to achieve and maintain leverage over their opponent. Just like holding the higher ground in a battle, leverage helps the Player to maintain the upper hand in the relationship.
This leverage need not be real; usually it is enough that it is merely perceived. Therefore, bluffing, or impression management, is an integral part of the Game.
There is an Italian expression: "fare una bella figura", which roughly translates to "putting on a nice face." This encapsulates this sentiment quite succinctly. Rather then being based upon objective reality, the focus shifts to the appearance of reality. Society rewards the appearance of virtue, rather than virtue itself. The people who appear to be nice, appear to be intelligent, and appear to be competent, are those who thrive in today's society. The surface is what counts. What doesn't show, doesn't matter!
The poseurs, who always existed and thrived throughout history, have never done so in such numbers. Whereas previously, they were the exception, now they have become the rule. It starts with projecting an air of success. Then, when we buy into 'them' as a product, we proceed to buy whatever it is they are pushing. In this way, appearing to be successful becomes the only real qualification for success. With this edict, the circle is complete - impression management has now become an end in and of itself.
Those virtual people cannot completely rid themselves of those who are the genuine article, because someone is required to actually produce. Consequently, a small number of these dinosaurs are allowed to stay and on occasion, are very well remunerated, and given impressive titles, but never under any circumstances are they given any real power. They may become experts, advisers, or researchers, but they are always well removed from where any real power resides.
There is an Italian expression: "fare una bella figura", which roughly translates to "putting on a nice face." This encapsulates this sentiment quite succinctly. Rather then being based upon objective reality, the focus shifts to the appearance of reality. Society rewards the appearance of virtue, rather than virtue itself. The people who appear to be nice, appear to be intelligent, and appear to be competent, are those who thrive in today's society. The surface is what counts. What doesn't show, doesn't matter!
The poseurs, who always existed and thrived throughout history, have never done so in such numbers. Whereas previously, they were the exception, now they have become the rule. It starts with projecting an air of success. Then, when we buy into 'them' as a product, we proceed to buy whatever it is they are pushing. In this way, appearing to be successful becomes the only real qualification for success. With this edict, the circle is complete - impression management has now become an end in and of itself.
Those virtual people cannot completely rid themselves of those who are the genuine article, because someone is required to actually produce. Consequently, a small number of these dinosaurs are allowed to stay and on occasion, are very well remunerated, and given impressive titles, but never under any circumstances are they given any real power. They may become experts, advisers, or researchers, but they are always well removed from where any real power resides.
This leverage need not be real; usually it is enough that it is merely perceived. Therefore, bluffing, or impression management, is an integral part of the Game.
There is an Italian expression: "fare una bella figura", which roughly translates to "putting on a nice face." This encapsulates this sentiment quite succinctly. Rather then being based upon objective reality, the focus shifts to the appearance of reality. Society rewards the appearance of virtue, rather than virtue itself. The people who appear to be nice, appear to be intelligent, and appear to be competent, are those who thrive in today's society. The surface is what counts. What doesn't show, doesn't matter!
The poseurs, who always existed and thrived throughout history, have never done so in such numbers. Whereas previously, they were the exception, now they have become the rule. It starts with projecting an air of success. Then, when we buy into 'them' as a product, we proceed to buy whatever it is they are pushing. In this way, appearing to be successful becomes the only real qualification for success. With this edict, the circle is complete - impression management has now become an end in and of itself.
Those virtual people cannot completely rid themselves of those who are the genuine article, because someone is required to actually produce. Consequently, a small number of these dinosaurs are allowed to stay and on occasion, are very well remunerated, and given impressive titles, but never under any circumstances are they given any real power. They may become experts, advisers, or researchers, but they are always well removed from where any real power resides.
There is an Italian expression: "fare una bella figura", which roughly translates to "putting on a nice face." This encapsulates this sentiment quite succinctly. Rather then being based upon objective reality, the focus shifts to the appearance of reality. Society rewards the appearance of virtue, rather than virtue itself. The people who appear to be nice, appear to be intelligent, and appear to be competent, are those who thrive in today's society. The surface is what counts. What doesn't show, doesn't matter!
The poseurs, who always existed and thrived throughout history, have never done so in such numbers. Whereas previously, they were the exception, now they have become the rule. It starts with projecting an air of success. Then, when we buy into 'them' as a product, we proceed to buy whatever it is they are pushing. In this way, appearing to be successful becomes the only real qualification for success. With this edict, the circle is complete - impression management has now become an end in and of itself.
Those virtual people cannot completely rid themselves of those who are the genuine article, because someone is required to actually produce. Consequently, a small number of these dinosaurs are allowed to stay and on occasion, are very well remunerated, and given impressive titles, but never under any circumstances are they given any real power. They may become experts, advisers, or researchers, but they are always well removed from where any real power resides.