Each year at my company, all of our managers will do a peer review assessment as part of their performance evaluation. What this means is that each manager will rate all of the other managers on a number of factors. The end result is a conglomerate snapshot of what everyone else thinks about your skills, performance, service and leadership. It’s based purely on subjective perception.
Not everyone likes it.
This peer review is not the only tool we use to assess performance, but we do believe that it is important for managers to know how the organization generally perceives them if they want to grow and develop in their careers. For those who find themselves at the lower end of the review scale, it is an opportuity to discuss why they are there and what they might be able to do to improve on it. In almost all of the cases, the people with the low peer evaluation scores are also the poorest performers.
I used to joke that in management, perception accounts for about 90% of one’s probability for getting promoted. If you want to advance within your company, then people across the management hierarchy will probably have to have a positive impression of you.
Authors Ori and Ron Braffman have said in their book Sway, that many times we attribute subconscious values or judgements on people based on split-second impressions. If you have ever interviewed for a job, you probably know this. Research says that the interviewer will make a decision about a person within the first five minutes of meeting them. There is something about our perceptions, that when carefully managed, can enhance our careers.
So, is your image really that important?
Michell Corbett over at Life on Purpose Blog has asked this same question, but from a Christian perspective. In her post, The Keys To Success: Performance, Image, Exposure, she talks about an event she attended where the speaker prompted the audience to answer the following question: Which of these are most important to your career advancement: Performance, Image, or Exposure (P.I.E.)? Michelle’s immediate response was to weigh her performance most heavily, followed by image, and exposure. Her P.I.E. breakdown was 60-30-10. But the speaker had a different idea. Michelle goes on to write,
“The speaker at the conference challenged the audience to think of what matters most in pretty much the exact opposite manner. She said that 60% should be exposure, 30% image, and 10% performance. Essentially, the performance part is assumed. The rest is what matters most. I can 100% see that this is how the work world operates. In fact, I went out the next weekend and bought some more suits and scheduled a lunch with a mover and shaker.”
Does this blatant self-promotion run opposite to the good Christian values of humility, servanthood and putting others before ourselves? Is there a biblical basis for career advancement? Michelle says, “I am struggling to get there in a biblical way…Am I overthinking this and it is just is what it is?”
In Matthew 10:16 Jesus says, “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
What do you think this would mean for our careers?
Photo of Grape Leaf by nAncY. Used with permission.
Post written by Bradley J. Moore of Shrinking the Camel.
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I’ve had performance reviews for almost my entire career, except for the four years I was an independent consultant. I can recall a few that were okay in terms of how they were conducted, many that were totally inept, but none that were good. When I started doing them myself for people on my team, I had no role models in the office. So I looked to biblical principles — be fair, be honest, talk about the hard stuff, give credit where it was due, and always affirm the worth of the person.
It’s interesting to consider the same questions in an on-line world. How, for instance, do we make a good impression without the ability to smile warmly and shake hands? Or, what makes a bad impression? How do we “advance” and how are we “peer-reviewed”? Are different dynamics at work in an on-line work world?
So you guys are agreeing that the impression we make on people, the image we portray, is important? Did Jesus ever care about that stuff?
Laura – I think the online world corrects itself. If someone is making a bad impression, usually the result would be a dive in traffic or interaction with that person (I confess that I still “unfollow” Twitterers after a while because they are so obnoxious, even though that is not good Twitter etiquette!). A good impression, conversely, builds long-standing online relationships.
I did a number of in-depth interviews with so-called experts on the topic of performance appraisal, including 360. All concluded PAs are necessary. . . and the bane of our existence. For every solution there was and is a problem.
A manager, I had to do many PAs. I sometimes dreaded them, because an employee might be doing his job but was a pain to everyone around him. I found, like Glynn, that fairness, honesty, giving credit, and being positive could take you a long way. . . as long as you did these things throughout the year, not just annually, and gave employees goals, the privilege of taking initiative, and insights into how goals and accomplishments were to be measured when you had to go through the drill.
I’d rather have great performance than image. I’ve read too much case law to know what happens when image holds more sway than good work. Everyone, I think, wants and needs exposure. The questions are, what kind of exposure, who’s doing the exposing, and what’s the purpose of the exposure? The answers will tell you whether exposure is good or not.
I think no matter where we are, in workplace or elsewhere, we see through each other’s
masks eventually. We have t, to get at “truth”–of performance, of person, of being. Who doesn’t know a “brown noser”? Who hasn’t seen the “old boy’s network” at work? Who really likes a snake who has the face of a lamb, or a lamb that turns out to be a snake?
I don’t want to be a devil in disguise, employ one, or work for one. I couldn’t trust or be trustworthy.
Transparency, honesty, understanding, fairness. . . and a hefty dose of commonsense are what I look for. And, for good measure, a bit of humility and a lot of faith.
Bradley… dude… this is a BIG one for me! Not (too) long ago, I interviewed for a promotion within my team. I didn’t get the job because I wasn’t ‘the type’. Essentially, my boss was wanting me to put on ‘a mask’ to present a certain image. When it comes to image, this is the part that I have a problem with… being somebody that you are not.
I totally understand, and agree with, the idea of putting yourself out there. I don’t see anything wrong with making yourself known. But the problem comes when it means that you are presenting yourself to be something that you are not. Integrity then becomes more important than corporate success, at least to me.
Wow… these questions are huge! I may have to run a post on this myself to expland on some of these thoughts! Thanks for making me think about this!
Wow. Great responses. Good point on the integrity issue, Dan.
For me, I struggle with the fact that I’m not very outgoing – put me in a room full of people I don’t know and I shrink into the corner. So is it lack of integrity for me to learn to put on a smile and make idle conversation. Or is it simply a skill set that I need to learn to advance in my career.
The P.I.E. thing became an issue recently when someone sought me out for career advice. This person’s end goal is to be doing something different at his organization than what he is doing now – like a completely different job. Sometimes your image in one area can hurt you in another. He has a great image and performs well in the job he has now. So it’s not always about image vs. performance. It’s like the age-old advice we give college students – never take the secretary (I know – not a PC term) position if you want to be seen as a something else in the company some day.
I realize, Bradley, that we are not addressing your actual question. Could this mean that we most definitely believe that we should care about our image even though Jesus may not have?
I think image is very important.
I wear a tie each day, despite the fact that most of the others are ‘dressing down.’
I volunteer, when others take a big step backwards.
I check, and double check my work, even though no one else cares.
I don’t steal from the company or lie about my duties.
I chalk these activities up to integrity, but if I’m honest, much of it is about image.
The deeper question is why…is this image about ME, or is about THE KING.
What is my Higher Calling?
I wrote about corporate image today, “What’s in the Sausage” over at Red Letter Believers.
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
David
Just an aside. I absolutely LOVE that photograph of nAncY’s. Really, really nice.
So, lots of opinions going on here, which is great.
I think we can all agree that honesty, encouragement and transparency goes a long way in Performance Reviews.
As far as being true to yourself vs. “masking” to get ahead… Could that sometimes be an excuse we make, because of our fear of change? What if God wants to grow and stretch us and be terrified the whole time in order to become stronger, to serve him in a greater capacity? That reminds me of the husband who tells his wife, “Don’t ask me to change, that’s just who I am,” while he watches the relationship go down the tubes. How will we ever grow personally or professionally without becoming extremely uncomfortable at times? I think Michele nailed it with distinguishing personal integrity (just who I am) vs. a skill that can be learned (stretching and growing beyond comfort zone). I guess it depends – on your motivation, ambition, drive, survival skills, and perhaps most importantly, your adaptability. And everyone is different, so probably one size does not fit all.
The question of image online is one I’ve considered a lot, one that has actually helped shape my approach to image in real life too. I think Jesus didn’t spend a lot of time focusing on His image – how He appeared to others around Him – His concern was with the Father-God He was portraying (You have seen Me, you have seen the Father). He spent His life being who He was, regardless of what others around Him thought.
Did He have a great career? Did people really want Him for what He had come to do? “There was nothing in Him that we should desire Him…” Prolly not. In Him, whatever we present of ourselves to others should be what real we have to give, who we are. We’re likely to be despised as Christ-followers, and we cringe at that, especially as it affects our careers – it affected mine even at a Christian organization! I’ve never regretted choosing to set my image aside and let God be responsible for what others think of me.
Choosing our own image is such a control thing. Being who we are is all about trust. I think He’s more concerned with manifesting His image in our foolish, weak selves than He is in seeing us attempt wisdom and strength without Him.
So, just as an aside, should we even bother combing our hair?
David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
Wow! Deep thinking here on a very touch topic, image. Even as a now stay home mom the question of image comes up. My kids are 7th, 6th and first grade. The elementary school is easy, and forgiving about image. I’m usually overdressed. The middle school is another story altogether. How should I dress? What am I expressing about what’s important and what’s not? About modesty? About the roles of women?
It usually depends on what I want. Am I attending a meeting for an IEP, special needs agenda for an autistic son? If so, I’m dressed in “work” attire as are the others in the room. It gives me even footing, in my mind and theirs. Am I working as a lunch room substitute? Then I really MUST have a whistle and the clothes are secondary. Finally, I brush my hair if I have time, or someone comments. Usually our brushes disappear quickly.
Humility is important. Be true to yourself and be true to others. In our every interaction with others, we should maintain humbleness and empathy. For such will resonate more than our ostensible gestures.
sending you out as sheep among wolves…
shrewd as snakes, clever, learned, and do not lie about God to His children.
and as innocent as doves, living with the Holy Spirit of God within.
this will mean a difference in life as a whole.
this whole line of thinking makes me want to watch “a Christmas carol” and make a pie.
Nancy -Maybe you have the best idea of all. Can we all come over?
Amy – Funny about the brush disappearing quickly. “I must have a whistle and the clothes are secondary” – that’s me whe I am leading Middle School Youth fellowship.
Kelly – I think you are talking more about internal/character image, and David, you are talking about the external appearance that make an impression on people. As far as I am concerned, both are going to matter, at work anyways. And you both point to the ultimate image-maker, which is God’s spirit working through us.
Okay, so I had a number of responses building in my mind as I read the comments here, and then Kelly went and said, “prolly” – one of my favorite funny words of all time! For demonstrating the ability to trump all other engaging comments, I “sha’prolly” give here the job (whatever it is). Strong performance, Kelly!
On a serious note: Brad and Michelle, this is an excellent collaborative post. Very engaging and the comments reflect it.
Maureen reminded me of an old study I read about in one of Malcolm Gladwell’s books (I think) that discussed how attracted the public is to a good-looking and tall presidential candidate – even if he isn’t the best performer.
This issue is important to CEO and SAHM alike. I presently walk in three worlds: I’m a homeschooling “SAHM” who’s also got a foot in the door with the publishing world and is active in numerous ministries. I spend a good deal of time in public, whether online or in the real world.
My Twitter profile says this: “Jesus is my Lord, God and King. It matters less what people think of me than what they think of Jesus Christ because of me.” What people think of me matters less, but it very much matters. In this world, I am the image of Jesus to others. I want to project it with all possible excellence, because exposure of bad image will work against me, and without performance to back it up, image will eventually crumble.
In thirty years, I’ve run the gamut with image.
It started with the “advertising” stage that young women are lured into by the media and peers. I dressed as provocatively as I could get away with while employed in various business/legal environments. When I gave my life to the Lord, no one in church suggested I work on a different image, but the Lord had His way of opening my eyes to immodesty. I slid into the frumpy stage of covering everything in yards of clothing, until I realized that it not only embarrassed and repelled my husband, but presented an unappealing image of Christianity. A makeover was in order.
I now aspire to present an attractive, approachable and modest persona which projects the genuine light of Jesus wherever I’m seen. Even if my plans are to stay home today, I am conscious that I project an image (and example) to my husband and children, whoever comes to the door, and any divine appointment the Lord’s scheduled on that quick trip for groceries.
I hated the idea of self-promotion online when I encountered the concept. It seemed to run counter to humility. “I want to promote You, not me!” was my whine to the Lord. He gave me a prayer: Please enable me to build a solid platform which gives prominence to You.
I sometimes fumble, but this remains my goal.
PS “Thirty years” isn’t my age, but my years as an adult. I’ll be 48 next month. Wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong image of me. ; )
All this “blatant self-promotion,” especially online, feels like I’m being asked to sit at the cool kids’ table, but only if I conform to certain standards. Ugh!
Anne – Very eloquent summary of the PIE. Your comment: “I now aspire to present an attractive, approachable and modest persona which projects the genuine light of Jesus wherever I’m seen” is hard to argue with. May we all bundle our packages in the same way as we go out into the world, no matter what our job or calling.
Sam, thanks for chiming in.
And Megan- we all think you’re cool.
someone’s image of you
has a lot to do
with how you make them feel.
Sam, I was wondering when you were going to pipe in. To your Gladwell point, I struggle in marketing all the time with the reality that people are persuaded by beauty and the desire to be authentic.
So back to the PIE factor as it relates to online presence that L.L. brought up. We have talked a lot about image, but exposure being 60% of the issue is certainly true if you want to advance online. Someone could be writing the most provocative stuff, but if no one is reading it…
Exposure was a major factor for my friend over at http://www.guynameddave.com. He was blogging about his personal 100 Thing Challenge, and it got picked up by Time Magazine. What ensued was a flurry of exposure internationally. He was even picked up by Harper Perennial to write a book.
Just as with image, there are lots of strategies I’m sure to gain exposure that may feel a little manipulative.
This post brings such great questions to light. As far as peer reviews, I value them. I’m open to suggestions for improvement, and if my team thinks I’m doing something weird or wrong, I want to know.
As for the PIE piece (piece of pie?!) I have a different opinion of how those percentages play out. Early on, while yes, first impressions make quite an impact, I think people actually have to perform or they won’t get promoted. I think people have to continue to perform at a high level, regardless of their career for them to sustain an image.
Consider for a moment if say, Oprah did not continue to innovate, continue to give insights, or promote good causes? If you went to see her show and you were bored, if everyone was bored in the audience, her image and positive exposure would decline. Maybe not the first week, but after a month of “boring Oprah,” the buzz would start, and she’d begin to be labeled as someone who’d “jumped the shark.” While a famous person gets wiggle room, they still have to maintain their performance level. Americans have high expectations and are quite fickle, and opinions can turn on a dime.
And, just for the record, I’m ONLY using Oprah as an example. I still think she’s a solid, lovely celebrity
Bradley,
It’s a very interesting question, isn’t it? It would be quite simple to quote chapter and verse to support the notion that image should be the last thing with which we, as Christians, should concern ourselves. Living up to it is an entirely different matter.
I’m not sure that we will ever be able to stop projecting the image that we want others to see. We have become so adept at it. Focusing on one’s image is undoubtedly a proven way to advance your career in the world, but if we look to the masters of image portrayal in Hollywood do we really see success?
I can’t get past 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.” Isn’t that really what we think of when we talk about our image? It’s just boasting of what we have or do.
Often, our response as Christians is to put on yet another image – one of humility. We downplay everything at which we are good thinking that false modesty is somehow the same as humility. True humility comes when we are not part of the equation at all – when the focus shifts from how we appear to how we love and help others.
Paul writes in Romans 12:3, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” We should not think too highly, or too lowly, of ourselves, but to think soberly.
Recognizing God’s gifts and talents in our lives, we should give Him the glory for those. If you are great at organizing, it is fine to say. “Hey, God has gifted me with great organizational skills. I’d be happy to take the lead on that.” We should also be willing to say, “I am really not very good with this. I will be happy to give it my all, but I will need help in this area.”
In one way, I guess we should be concerned with our image. I wrote above that we should give God glory, but that really isn’t possible because we have no glory to give. It would be more accurate to say that we should become more like Christ, conforming our image to His, so that His glory will reflect off us – like the light of the sun off the moon.
Brad