Which do you believe is more important, perception or results?

2015-02-18T11:18:44-05:00

As leaders/people managers, do you believe the perceptions of your soldiers/employees or the results they provide, are more import to the success of your unit/company?

While perception can be important, it is worth noting that everyone's perceptions are influenced by stereotypes. Due to this, perceptions are inherently biased and quite often not accurate.

I would much rather have an employee that is perceived poorly, but does great work and has outstanding results, than someone that is perceived as the next big thing. These types of individuals tend to manipulate their environment to appear as such but rarely have the same results as the latter.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 18 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-02-18T11:40:30-05:00

There's an old saying "Perception is Reality."

That said, results are important. But perception is equally important.

Let's take a fine dining restaurant for example. The food is top notch. But it's PRESENTATION is always stellar. It always looks good. More often than not, people will forgive "results" if they "perceive" things were good at first glance.

If you were to walk into a restaurant and the food didn't look good, you won't even bother to try it. It's not worth the effort.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 1:01 PM

2015-02-18T13:01:05-05:00

Results first. Perception always. Let's take this beyond the individual person you put forth as a hypothetical. Let's put the mission the Army has to be prepared for war while detering war. While we may be ready to do so, if we are not perceived as being capable of doing so, we fail...on multiple fronts. The American public loses faith and our enemies believe we are incapable and take advantage of that perceived weakness. They may be overwhelmed on the field of combat, but only at huge expense of blood and gold. That same hypothetical can be taken down to the unit level as well. While I may have the best Squadron in the United States Army, the most highly trained Cavalry Scouts the good Lord has ever seen fit to bless, and the most capable and ready vehicles in the fleet...it doesn't mean a thing if someone doesn't recognize that and put us on the top of the list for deployment.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 18 at 2015 1:11 PM

2015-02-18T13:11:56-05:00

I believe there needs to be a balance between perception and results. Results are hard to dispute they are either positive or negative but perception is as you say biased and you are correct. For example, a lot of people perceive help desks as unhelpful and a waste of time yet when they cannot resolve the issue themselves they call the help desk. That help desk can have a team of all stars but because of analysts before them they are perceived negatively. However, that team of all star analysts can change perception by providing excellent results.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Feb 18 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-02-18T13:18:48-05:00

In the recruitment world Results are needed and required - as a consultant for recruitment and marketing both are important

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 2:22 PM

2015-02-18T14:22:25-05:00

SPC Ryan D. Does the dog and pony show have positive or negative overall impact on the Army's mission?

Response by Sgt Zachary Johnson made Feb 18 at 2015 2:44 PM

2015-02-18T14:44:23-05:00

I have to agree with LTC Halvorson's commits. Your team is weakest with neither and strongest with both.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-02-18T16:42:57-05:00

If you focus on results the perception will follow. There may be an excess of BS along the way but eventually those that rely on perception alone will eventually show their ass.

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Sep 24 at 2016 1:11 PM

2016-09-24T13:11:28-04:00

results....Perception is based on conditioned pasts and prejudices.