Posted on Feb 18, 2015
SPC Ryan D.
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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.
Posted in these groups: Imgres EmploymentLeadership abstract 007 Leadership
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Responses: 8
COL Strategic Plans Chief
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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.
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SFC Processing Nco
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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.
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Sgt Zachary Johnson
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I have to agree with LTC Halvorson's commits. Your team is weakest with neither and strongest with both.
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SPC Ryan D.
SPC Ryan D.
9 y
I like to think that with great results, in time will come great perception.
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Sgt Zachary Johnson
Sgt Zachary Johnson
9 y
I agree SPC Dow!
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