Perception at Work Matters!
A recent WhatCollegeForgot.com post on how to get promoted faster highlighted the importance of being proactive, enhancing your visibility within an organization, and being more efficient with your time. But what about perception at work? Does the perception that others have of you at work make a difference in terms of your career development?
The short answer is yes, perception at work definitely does matter and is something you should proactively think about starting from day one.
Perception at work does matter
In a perfect world, you would be judged primarily on the substance you produce at work in addition to a few soft skills such as leadership or project management. Unfortunately, politics play a role in many companies, and how others perceive you impacts your ability to succeed at your job.
If you take one thing away from this article, it’s this: make sure you are aware of the perceptions others have of you at work and consciously strive to be perceived in a positive light!
While the work you complete and the attitude you have at work are key components of how you’re perceived, there are some other factors that impact this perception. Here are some quick tips that can improve your co-workers’ perceptions of you in the office (and you might just get promoted a tad bit faster along the way):
Dress for the job you want
If you’re hoping for a promotion, you should always dress the part. Maintain your own sense of style but kick up the formality just a notch. If your peers wear jeans to work every day and most managers wear business casual attire, it’s easier for your boss to perceive you as manager material if you “dress up” a few days each week.
Face time matters
Some companies have unwritten rules that employees start earlier or stay later than “standard” business hours. If this applies to the place where you work, it’s sad to say that you should probably adhere to this informal policy as much as possible.
You’ll know your company embraces the importance of face time if any of the following are true:
- Your boss gives you feedback about the hours you’re working, even if your work is being completed on-time and is high quality
- Your co-workers only leave work early on days when the boss is out on vacation
- Your department or company discourages telecommuting, even just once a month
- Promotions are always doled out to the those that work the longest hours
If any of these scenarios apply to you, accept your situation as it is and get in the habit of putting in more face time when you can, even if you can only stomach staying late a couple of days per week.
Get in the habit of looking busy (even if you aren’t)
Having a sense of urgency about your work is important, and part of that is continuing to plug away even if there's not much going on. Many of you probably have more than enough work to complete on most days, so naturally end up looking busy. Whether you’re actually busy or simply faking it, you can follow these tips so that others perceive you as having a ton of work to do:
- Walk quickly, even if it’s to the bathroom!
- Carry a pad of paper with you wherever you go so that you look like you’re always headed to another important meeting.
- Have a question ready for your boss when he walks by; you’ll appear that you don’t even have time to get up for a few minutes to ask.
Be strategic when socializing at work
Have you ever caught your boss checking out the lunch room to take inventory of which employees are socializing on their lunch hour instead of eating at their desks? Is it frowned upon to hang out in a co-worker’s cube for ten minutes on Monday morning to ask about her weekend?
You need to be strategic when socializing at work if you’re nodding yes to either of these scenarios. Here are some tips:
- Take a coffee break with a co-worker or two at some point during the day – you can talk as you walk. If you decide to go when your boss is around, first ask if he wants you to grab anything for him. Most bosses appreciative team players and won't be as likely to dock you for taking off for a few minutes!
- Pull up a chair in a co-workers’ cube and face the computer together. Whether you’re discussing work or play, this is the best way to maintain the perception that you’re hard at work.
While these tips alone wouldn't be enough to ensure a successful career, they can be powerful tools to ensure you are perceived in a positive light and help you move your career forward, one step at a time.
By: Gale Bowman
5-24-2010
After graduating from Notre Dame, Gale realized that young professionals need a source of reliable information as they face “real world” challenges. Gale manages WhatCollegeForgot.com and is pursuing an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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