Written by: Inez Jordan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
John describes himself as a great leader. He heads up large global teams and gets things done.
However, in a 360 assessment, John found out that his team described him as a poor listener, that he likes to do things his way, and he was a bit of a know-it-all. His team did not feel that he cared about their ideas, so they were less engaged. John was surprised to review the feedback from his management and direct reports. Why was his perception of himself so misaligned with that of his colleagues?
Sue describes herself as a fantastic communicator. Her presentations are clear, concise, and to the point. She takes pride in the focused effort and time that it takes to prepare her slides and documentation. However, in her 360 assessment, Sue found out that her colleagues viewed her as opinionated, too detailed, and a bit arrogant. They stated that, during her presentations, Sue allowed practically no time for questions and just assumed everyone agreed with her ideas. Sue was a bit disappointed after reading the results.
In the assessments, John and Sue found out that their self-perception was misaligned. How did this disconnect occur? How can they positively use the feedback from their management and peers?
First off, kudos to John and Sue for participating in a 360 Assessment. They should avoid becoming defensive, accept the assessment results with curiosity, and have an open mind for making positive change. They should show gratitude for the feedback and dig in to identify areas for improvement. View feedback as a gift!
John and Sue had lost touch with their teams and audiences. They were not truly engaged. Each had missed the opportunity to connect, ask questions, and truly listen and make people feel heard and valued. The feedback is a gift to identify areas for improvement and routine check-ins to confirm the positive impact.
A few other options to consider are:
Google yourself. It is a great way to see how you and your brand appear on social media. How do the search results match your expectations? Is there is a disconnect? What corrections are needed to establish the image and brand that you want to portray?
Talk candidly with your family and friends. Ask specific questions about what they feel you are good at, where you may want to make some changes, or be more aware of how what you say or do impact others.
The findings from each of these options will provide insight into your perception by others. There may be a few surprises in the feedback results. However, remember to be grateful for the feedback.
Avoid defensiveness and intentionally think about why someone may have misunderstood or misread your intentions. What can you do differently in the future to confirm that your message, presentation, e-mail, or body language is received as intended?
Awareness of your perception by others is an Emotional Intelligence skill and sign of an effective leader. We must be careful to monitor body language, words, and gestures daily to ensure clear communication with others. Stop regularly to confirm your message and ensure that your audience feels safe and comfortable in asking questions.
Share your ongoing plans for improvement with someone that you trust and ask for feedback. For example, "I am working on improving my presentation skills. How did you like my speech yesterday? Do you think I allowed enough time for questions or covered the information thoroughly? Do you have any comments to share that can help me to be even better next time?"
Be sure to listen and be grateful for the feedback.
Perception by others is the foundation to building a positive personal brand and lasting trusted and respectful relationships with our management and peers.
To learn more about the topic of Personal Branding, Social Awareness and Emotional Intelligence, contact Inez at inez@inezjordan.com
Inez Jordan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jordan is a Certified Emotional Intelligence coach, with concentrations in Individual Leadership / Professional Development and Group Coaching for Career Success. Inez enjoys working with leaders and professionals to identify blind-spots, overcome challenges and individual saboteurs to build a strong personal presence and successfully achieve their goals.
With over 20 years of Executive Program Management and Client Engagement experience, Inez is a recognized thought leader, panelist and speaker on topics of Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Team Motivation, and Personal Presence.
Passionate about benefits of Emotional Intelligence, Inez challenges her clients to focus on understanding how they are perceived and impact others, and inspires them to constantly improve "How They Show Up" in all of their relationships.
