Is Perception really everything?

IN THE WORLD OF PERCEPTION.

Have you heard someone say, Perception is Everything!

How true is that?

Many times I have seen personally how the way you see things can either reflect what the thing is or who we are. Sometimes one could tend to hear to much about other people and not even paying attention to an individual Perception about such individual.

As a Leader, I'd say for that Perception informs

reality because your sense of perception shows in your pattern of leadership.

Wikipedia says; Perception is the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

The way a leader is perceived by others will have a significant impact on their effectiveness and in many cases the reputation of their organization.

I read someone about when President Obama was roundly criticized for commenting that he lacked a strategy for dealing with the terrorist organization ISIS. He certainly did not give any thought to the negative impact of how his leadership would be perceived before he made this statement. As a result, he was viewed as weak and indecisive. Two weeks later he announced an aggressive military strategy for dealing with ISIS, but his first comment will always be remembered by ISIS and his political opponents. Only time will tell whether his second statement will reverse the negative perception formed by his first statement.

People can be at the same place, at the same time and still come away with different opinions about what actually happened and, because everyone perceives the world in different ways, each person thinks that their version of events is correct.

As a leader, it’s important to be aware of your own perceptual biases and shortcuts. However, as difficult as these may be to overcome, you can always mitigate their impacts by being aware of how bias informs your perceptions and avoid jumping to conclusions.

Even for businesses; 

For a consumer, it is important to know what they are investing into is worth it and for this, the business needs to market itself to prove them right. Perception is reality. The business needs to make sure that they produce advertisements that are relevant enough to convince the customer. Sometimes, businesses use trickery or manipulation to achieve this, though usually get caught out. We want to put out our best qualities to present ourselves in the best possible light.

 I said that perception becomes reality. Let me explain. You have two consultants. One is great at marketing and gives the perception of being the expert. The other simply works hard, possibly is very good (maybe even the best) but because they are quiet, don’t market themselves well, the perception may not be that they are the best. How this becomes reality is that the one with the great perception gets more business, more experience and is more successful – at least financially. They are now doing really well and essentially have become better in some aspects and hence, perception has become reality.

Take another instance, your business is on Instagram and you make an deliver food. Because you feel that it doesn't matter what you post or write! You then take a picture of an African Food and it is looking like something else. You must ensure you invest in your perception about things and how you'd love people to perceived things.

Perception is very important in everyday living!

My question is this,

How do you Perceived yourself? 

What do others think of you? Or are part of those that don't bother about what people think of them?

I laugh!!

Think about it!

Cheers,

VICTOR AYO OLUWOLE