PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
For or Against....
One of my mentors, Pastor Olakunle Soriyan, a renowned motivational speaker, once opined that we should care about people's perception, it's an investment of our reputation capital.
That got me thinking; does it really matter?
Does public opinion add anything to one's general self worth and profitability?
Well, that would depend on how one looks at it.
There is the negative criticism that seeks to downplay one's persona; and the constructive criticism that adds positively by shedding light on one's shortfalls in order to stir improvements.
No man is an island of knowledge and as such, two good heads are deemed better because iron sharpeneth iron.
Take the game of football for an instance, a player who is thinking on his feet can choose to take the best decision, of whom or where to kick the ball, from his own judgement. However, the spectators with wider view, sees the multiple options and could rightly have a different opinion on a player's better choice. Does that mean that the player was wrong? No! Neither were the spectators.
That being said, public opinion is beyond who is Right or Wrong; it is about seeing from the eyes of others. Not that it is consequential, rather it is expedient.
Lets look at another scenario, a true life account. I was in the market with my cousin and my brother's wife. We were evaluating and commenting on the shapes and sizes of the female passersby... and in the course of our discussion, she (the wife) said and i quote "I like Eric (that would be yours truly), him no carry church for head like him brother".
Initially, i felt comfortable at the remark which technically meant that i blended fine with them and they were comfortable in my company but on a second thought, i realized that i was not known for my Christianity.
That means if i were in the biblical Antioch at that time, i would not be named- a Christian, as other disciples, because my lifestyle seated well with things and people of the world.
Then it struck me, the words of Jesus Christ...Who do people say i am? (Why did He care to know)
People's opinion of you is not necessarily who you are and would not change your personality, but might affect your influence over them. It is quite interesting that in a world of constant change, the world still expects you to have a consistent character as to judge you thereby.
People mirror your actions and learn passively from the things you say and/or do. The world is watching you with their own eyes of expectation. They expect that you match your word with action. Whatever you do, people will always build their own opinion/interpretation of the action. They are entitled to it. A sage once said, that opinion is like a nose, everyone has got one, and its got a couple of holes in it.
That been said, we must not rely on people's appraisal for our personal conviction of what gives us heart's peace. You cannot please the world. Until one takes a walk in your shoes, one cannot really tell the reason behind another's actions. People should innocently ask- to know, before making judgement. You cannot run away from it, we live in a society therefore people's judgement of your person will affect the way they relate to you.
The final question becomes, who/what am i known for?
In the business school of thought, it is said that "perception is reality".
What are you known for?
What people say or think of you will determine how they deal with you.
Are you known for your professionalism, your integrity, your punctuality, neatness, charisma, cheerfulness... and other forms of attribute?
Brand promoters and marketers have taken advantage of this perception thingy to build a popular portfolio around their brand name.
You do the same; build a public persona of what you want to be known for.
The more you do it, (fake or real) the more you become.
Take charge and keep winning!
Mbonu Eric...copyright 2017.
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