Perception is Reality | LSW#52
Three visuals to understand how you're perceived
Hey! It’s Sheril from Leading Sapiens. Welcome to my newsletter, where I share strategies for getting savvier at the game of leadership & work.
Today’s edition shares 3 visuals that highlight how you’re perceived. I’ll delve deeper in future posts, but for now, see what they prompt. How can you change strategies?
Previous editions ICYMI:
How you are seen at different levels
Given how most folks today work in project teams (instead of functional), your manager’s view of your impact is often skewed.
Reflection question: How can you make the circles equal?
Relationships before actions
Many subject-matter experts jump straight into what can be called “conversations for action”. Aka getting things done. This is a mistake. Why?
Requests and directives for actions are interpreted in the context of possibilities and relationships that are already established. If we don’t actively design this context, the default one might not be best. Your actions and initiatives won’t be seen in the best light, or even misinterpreted.
Reflection question: Are you spending too much time only in conversations for action, and not enough on the other two?
Manager subordinate relationship
Reflection question: What actions can you take to change the manager/subordinate dynamic?
Related reading
Below are some additional pieces that explore different aspects:
The Johari Window: A robust self-awareness tool to identify blindspots that can derail folks, especially leaders.
Bolman-Deal 4 frames: A nice framework to look at organizations from different angles. Typically our understanding is limited to one or two frames.
Closure conversations: This is a specific type of conversation and one I’ve found we don’t do enough of. Related to the above visual of conversations for action, possibilities, and relationships.
That does it for this edition. If you found this valuable, please like and share. It makes my day, and helps other folks to find this publication. See you next week!