These strategies can help you take control of your image.
It involves actions that often cast us in a favorable light so you can achieve our goals.
“We all engage in purposeful and subconscious behaviors to manage the perceptions that others have of us.
Alice Morgan for Verywell Mind / Stocksy
Good impressions forge friendships, attract romantic partners, and foster professional connections.
Such meaningful relationships impact our social health, mental well-being, and career success.
Sociologists and other behavior experts suggest that this is a lot like an actor putting on a performance.
Its a complex interplay that can have an impact on your relationships, accomplishments, and emotional well-being.
Social interactions, he suggested, are much like theatrical performances.
This can be contrasted with their less formal, more relaxed “backstage self.”
How we act, the way we dress, and the signals shape impressions and relationships.
Simply put, Goffman’s theory suggests that people engage in performance when they are interacting with other people.
The goal of this act is to cultivate the image they hope to convey.
It is in private that people act like their genuine, authentic selves.
But our actions alone arent the only factors that shape impressions.
This theory suggests that group memberships have an important role in impression management.
There are several key behaviors that people use to control the impression that others form.
These behaviors include:
Ingratiation
Ingratiation is all about trying to get approval from others.
It involves behaviors like complimenting, flattering, or agreeing with others to encourage people to like you more.
Such behavior can be genuine or manipulative, depending on what the person doing it is trying to accomplish.
Exemplification
Have you ever encountered someone who seems like the epitome of perfection?
They might be using an impression management tactic known as exemplification.
They go all-out to project an image of perfection.
The goal of this bang out of behavior is to win the admiration of others.
It can be an effective tool when people need a little extra help.
Plus, it fostersprosocial behaviorsthat can be important in positive interpersonal dynamics.
It can also involve personal storytelling and self-promotion.
These skills can also help with avoiding potential conflicts in the workplace.
Personality Traits
Personality traits and tendencies influence how you present yourself to others.
You might adopt different strategies as you interact with your friends versus how you respond to your colleagues.
Motivation
We also modify our actions based on what we hope to accomplish in a situation.
How you present yourself to your friends will probably differ from how you present yourself at a job interview.
Audience Characteristics
We also tailor the image we present based on our audience.
If you are more familiar with the audience, you are more likely to act informally and casually.
Managing your self-image also influences your professional relationships.
This will also lead to people having better success when working or referring to you.
That means paying attention to others and usingactive listeningto hear and understand what they are trying to communicate.
This means dressing appropriately and maintaining a professional appearance.
Forlenza also recommends staying open tofeedbackand staying motivated to keep learning.
Negative experiences, on the other hand, can undermine self-esteem.
When we fail to create a good impression, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.
The fear of negative evaluations can lead to feelings ofsocial anxietythat can become debilitating at times.
This can lead to feelings ofchronic stressandburnoutthat can ultimately take a toll on your health and well-being.
One study found that impression management could negatively affect life satisfaction.
Impression Management and Deception
Managing the impression we give to others is usually about presenting ourselves favorably.
However, people sometimes use impression management to intentionally manipulate or mislead others.
This may involve presenting false or deceptive information as a way to avoid negative consequences to for personal gain.
Research suggests that such behaviors can also negatively affect a person’s professional performance and success.
One study found that using ingratiation and self-promoting behaviors in the workplace can deplete self-control resources.
When this happens, it can lead to harmful, counterproductive behaviors.
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