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Image is better than ability, a common phenomenon in the workplace
After immersing yourself in the workplace for a period of time, you may notice a seemingly contradictory phenomenon: those who hold high positions are not always the most capable employees. Perhaps their professional level is average, their management skills are not outstanding, and some people are even good at shirking responsibility, but strangely enough, they can still control power and give orders to colleagues who are clearly superior in ability.
As a newcomer in the workplace, seeing this phenomenon inevitably creates a slight imbalance in my heart. But as you accumulate experience, you will gradually understand that this is actually a reasonable phenomenon. As a small society, the interaction between people in the workplace determines the height of your career, not just your personal abilities.
Why aren’t employees with exceptional abilities promoted?
There used to be a colleague in the office who had a strong sense of responsibility, was meticulous and thoughtful, always completed work on time, and had excellent quality. Leave the task to her, you can always feel at ease. However, this colleague has an introverted personality and always avoids eye contact when communicating with others. Even when she meets someone in the pantry, she quickly lowers her head and walks away. Because everyone knows she is not good at socializing, few people actively approach her on a regular basis.
Later on, there was a vacancy for department head in the company, and theoretically, this colleague’s abilities were sufficient to fulfill this position. However, it was another colleague who did not perform as well as her, but was confident and full of personal charm, who ultimately received the promotion. This result surprised many people, but upon careful consideration, it is actually not difficult to understand.
Workplace Truth: Image Influence Evaluation
After communicating with leaders from other departments, I realized that the so-called ‘right thing, wrong person’ is often just an ideal state. Bosses often judge whether a person is competent for an important position based on their own “feelings”, which mostly come from the other person’s external image.
An important fact in the workplace is that humans are naturally inclined to judge people based on their appearance. Although we often say on the surface, ‘Don’t judge people by appearance,’ in actual work, about 80% of judgments are highly subjective. Even if we try to maintain objectivity and neutrality, our first impression of a person often deeply influences our perception.
Studies have shown that the impression at the first meeting can become a filter for all subsequent interactions. Afterwards, no matter what the other person says or does, they are easily influenced by this initial impression. To change this deeply ingrained belief often requires great effort.
Image is the invisible power of the workplace
In the workplace, the importance of image is not limited to appearance. It is also a part of your personal brand and a key factor in how others perceive you. Image is not just about what you wear or do, it also affects how others interpret your behavior. The same action, if completed by different people, often triggers different evaluations.
For example, if a wealthy person plays computer games in the office, people will think that he is using modern tools to improve work efficiency; But if someone who is considered unsuccessful does the same thing, they may be criticized for not doing their job properly. This is the power of image, it not only affects others’ perception of you, but also directly determines your career development path.
Image first, ability will be seen
I have heard of the saying: “In the workplace, image must come before ability, otherwise your ability is easily underestimated.” This sentence hits the nail on the head of the reality in the workplace: if you only focus on improving your ability and ignore your image, your efforts may be overlooked.
Expecting others to understand your true abilities through your external appearance is actually a manifestation of self centeredness. We should not assume that others will actively understand you, but should take the initiative to create an image that is conducive to our own development.
Image is the professional ability of the workplace
To some extent, the image in the workplace itself is a form of professional competence. Only when you create a suitable image can others better understand you. Image is not just external packaging, but also the confidence, communication skills, and attitude towards others that you demonstrate in your work.
As I later realized, a person’s’ aura ‘is more important than any external decoration. This aura is an intangible workplace superpower that can help you earn the trust and respect of others.
Self practice in building workplace image
Since realizing the importance of image, I have started to change myself. I, who used to be unkempt, started paying attention to my appearance and appearing in the office with a more appropriate image every day. The results soon became apparent: colleagues had significantly different attitudes, more people began to approach me proactively, and opportunities at work also increased.
As an introverted person, I have also felt uncomfortable in social situations, but I have gradually learned to maintain stable emotions and confident eyes when communicating with others. Although I have not become outgoing, through practice, I have become more comfortable in the workplace and have won more respect and opportunities as a result.