Believe yourself... Live to express, not to impress

"God gives a lot of things to bad people, but he will let them fail eventually.

He makes life harder to good people, but he will not let them fail."

                                    -          Superstar Rajnikanth

Let us start with the book definition of Impression Management.  "Impression management is an active self-presentation of a person aiming to enhance his image in the eyes of others”. To put it in simple words, it is like to create favouritism. 

Do you like it? No, will be the reply by most of the people if it turns out to be deceptive impression management. But still some people are experts in it. A survey involving a group of employees reveals that around 86% of the respondents said they have indulged in this deceptive impression management in some or the other way. 

The sad part is you find some of them doing this “Deceptive Impression Management” in and around you. Not only does it bring in indifferences but also demotivates people. Psychologists quote impression management as a “dangerous art”.

Once again a question arises. Can you control it? Yes, but it is difficult and instead you can find ways to tackle it.

v  Give time and analyse the psyche of these people

Analysing the psyche of these people can make you comfortable in judging their moves and you can be pro-active.

v  Be nice and cordial to all

Being nice and cordial to all will help in working and also in getting information, in knowing what’s happening all around. Being nice does not mean that you have to be the ever smiling or the flattering types. Make sure that you disagree and put across your opinion/point also for otherwise you may be taken for granted.

v  Be genuine as much as possible

It is a quality that will help always and it is only this that will bring you closer to people in any set up. So be naturally concerned and helpful without going overboard.

v  Learn to play chess..!! Yes, it’s a mind game and can help you out during many occasions especially during deceptive impression management.

Chess helps in thinking and gauging what should be your next step and from where all/ who all you need to protect your assets/skills/information … who is out to hit you etc. The game of Chess teaches this and much more … take these as lessons for life and not just for the game!

v  Know when to speak, where to speak and with whom to speak

Choose your confidante carefully and refrain from making hard hitting comments against a colleague or organisation in front of people who may use it to their benefit.

v  Practice patience

There is no alternative. The more patient you become the less is the stress and the happier your disposition.

Arthashastra provides two main paths of achieving goal: 

Shreyas and Preyas. Shreyas is a path of good which is initially difficult but one who follows it will be the ultimate winner at the end. And Preyas is the path that is followed by these people who consider doing impression management. Remember, they can be just short term winners.

If not now, you may come across this kind of deceptive impression management in your future as managers of organisation. It all lies in your hand to tackle it. As a future manager it is your responsibility to recognise really deserving people and protect the hard workers from the people who believe in impression management.

Do you believe in your skills/competencies to climb the ladder of success...?

If you don’t believe yourself you can go with impression management

 Answer yourself...!!

This post was written by Srishnath, I year PGDM.