Perception In The Workplace
Perception is in the eye of the beholder. For example, how Donald Trump is viewed in the workplace is reflective of one’s own past experiences, values, and belief systems. Some of those who voted against Donald Trump, for example, may use words such as narcissistic, chauvinist, racist, and bully to describe him. On the other hand, some of those who voted for Trump may describe him as a shrewd, strong, deal-maker, or direct.
How are you perceived at work? How would you like to be perceived? Your own life experiences, values, and belief systems will affect your response. Where did these values and belief systems come from, and do they serve you well? What small steps can you take to emulate your desired qualities?
One4all Rewards Spotlights Awards conducted a survey of 2,000 UK adults to determine what they admired most in colleagues at work. The results show that people’s ability to get the task done was most important, followed by their attitude. While not every industry values the same qualities in its colleagues, the results do pose the question of how your attitude comes across.
How to be the most loved colleague at work:
- Be effective and deliver results (37pc)
- Be optimistic and enthusiastic (31pc)
- Be trustworthy enough to keep secrets or listen to worries (30pc)
- Display initiative (27pc)
- Be knowledgeable about what you do (25pc)
- Meet deadlines and be organised (24pc)
- Be empathetic enough to offer a shoulder to cry on (18pc)
- Show leadership (13pc)
- Be dedicated – arrive early and stay late (11pc)
Sometimes, how we are perceived is a blind spot that gets brought to light when we get frequently overlooked for promotion or receive some challenging performance review feedback. Get the support you need to strengthen how you are perceived in the workplace.
