You have wondered about the “personal image”: What elements define it? Why is it essential in our human relationship? What motivations lead to include it in the job placement processes? These are some of the questions that inspire this writing and whose implications are probably larger than expected.
What is personal image
I will define it as the set of variables that make up the good or bad opinion that others form. It is the first perception produced when establishing an encounter, no matter how brief, with our fellow men. In my opinion, emotions, prejudices, fears, acceptance capacity, empathy, values, etc. influence.
A famous expression warns: " There is no second chance to make a good first impression." I agree with its validity and accurate application in the workplace. I will cite a situation: you go to a job interview or a meeting with a client and, for various reasons, that morning you suffered an acute alteration in your mood: your treatment can be distant, absent from your usual kindness and even curt and little accessible. The human beings with whom it interacts do not know what happened and, consequently, they will make an unfavorable "image". Perhaps that will affect their encounter.
In personal matters, your luck may be different. I share an example: when attending a social activity, his development, conversation and innumerable details of his personality create a wrong "image". But, months later, he meets those neighbors again in another event and the impression they made may evolve from a new chance.
Let's go back to the business sphere. In this context, the "personal image" is not only based on their optimal knowledge, academic degrees and skills inherent to their specialty. It is complemented and enriched by their education, culture, ethics, common sense, elegance and, furthermore, by the good manners and courtesies that will expedite their full prosperity. Also, there are factors such as body language, tastes, way of speaking, laughing, tone of voice, gestures and daily behavior.
It is imperative to take an interest in our appearance, health and project a positive attitude. Decline to imitate others, be authentic, honest and original. Decide on your own brand, it will be a sample of your evolution and improvement; avoid neglecting its significance. Style is a way of saying who you are without having to speak. Make sure it matches your status and suitability and therefore reflects your individuality.
We all have a private and public “image”. The first is manifested in our home and with those with whom we share our intimate coexistence. In this, as is to be expected, we relax and harmful aspects that should be overcome are visible. The second is transmitted in the workplace and in the settings in which we interact. There should be a minimum of coincidences between the two: inconceivable differences, contrasts and contradictions would not be recommended.
On this subject, I wish to reflect on its subjectivity and breadth. I know men and women, whose antagonistic behavior motivates abysmal appreciations in their friendship, family and corporate surroundings. They project a highly friendly, warm and fluid coexistence with their friends. However, it is the opposite that his office colleagues have of him. In this case, an absence of concordance in their performance is visible.
Remember: in the "personal image" there is always a process of bilateral study. That is to say, in a sneaky way, you scrutinize who you have just been introduced to and they do the same: both are in a mutual analysis, while drawing conclusions. Even certain manifestations of your body or gaze can express acceptance or rejection and your affable comments - made in an effort to look good with your interlocutor - could be denied by your body and visual language.
A matter of undoubted validity is self-esteem. The so-called self-esteem, behavior and skills that constitute the basis of their identity. It is built from childhood and depends on the existing reciprocity with the most significant people in our lives. Low self-esteem prompts you to try too hard to overcome perceived inferiority. It prevents the search for the meaning of survival and causes confusing identification problems.
Declining self-esteem causes psychological disorders, depression, psychosomatic handicaps and character flaws, shyness, lack of initiative, and anticipation of failure. It induces comparison with social models and makes it difficult to understand that each individual is different and that the only thing comparable is our strength with respect to our performance. It delimits our way of seeing life, facing its adversities and we show it in the confidence in speaking, in the decisions made, in the affections given and received, among other indicators.
It is impossible to emit an "image" of acceptance, credibility, trust if, previously, you avoid increasing the soft qualities. Every transformation process takes time. It is illusory to achieve it from one day to the next, not even renewing external components. Any innovation implies defining the positive and negative - of each one of us - and, especially, analyzing our internal world and its effects on the interpersonal bond. Start by highlighting the favorable and implement reforms based on what you want to envision.
It is important to channel the "image" from a different point of view than the daily recommendations circumscribed to the use of cosmetics, colors, designs, textures, hairstyles and a host of accessory elements. Those who allude that change is achieved by modifying exteriorities show precariousness and lack of depth on a subject with multiple edges. It is unfortunate to see the professional market impregnated with those who seek to turn this concept into a fair of frivolities, costumes and makeup. Nothing could be further from the truth and, at the same time, it is an indication of the commercial claims of those who use the expectation generated by this issue.
I advise asking yourself: What do I look like? Are my clothes appropriate for my activities? Is my hair neat? Is my toilet adequate? What is the way to communicate? Are my emotional reactions assertive? Do you project an optimistic, confident, and compelling feeling? How do I imagine others see me? They are required components to include in your self-assessment.
It is essential to consider the unequivocal connection of the "ideal image" and the "real image". The first is the one that is not you, but wants to be. If it is not in harmony with your interior, it can be built on the basis of wrong beliefs or hopes. It is generally copied, fictitious or invented from referents. The second personifies him with virtues and defects. It is your reality and it has been shaped by your training, expectations or information from the environment. Acknowledging their presence makes it possible to obtain a closer and more achievable one.
We often tend to believe, based on our particular reading, that we radiate an "image" consistent with our expectations. However, there may be a gap between what we have configured in our imaginary and what we conceive. Our self-criticism and intrapersonal intelligence will facilitate a serene study and apply corrections.
Let us appreciate the formidable repercussion of a genuine, integral and explicit “personal image” of his idiosyncrasy. If you have a healthy profile I suggest feeding it and strengthening it; on the contrary, if you are aware of their misreading of you, you are in time to implement a plan to reverse this interpretation.