How does your job look to others from the outside? Does it look like you are important, responsive, professional, responsible, or even ethical? Does it look like you are never there, you are slacking off, never telling the truth, or always making excuses?
Recently, in Canada, we have been hearing our elected politicians telling us not to travel, pleading with us not to gather with family over the holidays, and reminding us to social distance.
We have since found more than a dozen of them not only broke all those rules and traveled but left the country for a much warmer holiday season than normal. Some had pre-scheduled social media posts telling us what they were doing that day (and they were not doing that!).
How was that supposed to look? It was supposed to look like they were following the same rules they were asking us to follow. How did it actually look? Bad. Very, very bad. Optics. In some cases, they lost their job. In all cases, they lost respect.
Do you pay attention to optics? Do you care what others see? By not watching what messages you are sending to others, you are potentially damaging your bosses and your companies’ reputation in addition to your reputation. Every single day we make choices. We make choices to keep our job and protect our reputation.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”d0ip1″ via=”yes” ]Do you pay attention to the optics? Do you care what others see?[/ctt]
How can you make sure you are protecting your reputation? These tips will make sure you able to see what others see, and protect your reputation for an optical mishap.
– Authenticity. If we are authentic, own our mistakes, learn from mistakes, being honest and transparent, the optics shouldn’t ever be an issue. How many times have we heard stories (or experienced first-hand) of someone pretending they were sick or too busy to get important work done, when in reality they were on the golf course, shopping, or hanging out by the pool for the afternoon? That isn’t authentic. You shouldn’t have to lie. I’ve heard the stories first hand of a friend calling in sick and then being caught because someone posted a photo to social media, or they ran into a coworker.
Our politicians were not authentic when they pre-filmed videos wearing warm clothing beside the fire wishing all their constituents a Merry Christmas. They knew they would be out of the country, on the beach, and breaking all the rules they told us to follow when those videos were circulated. That isn’t authentic.
If your gut says, “Don’t get caught,” then the optics are bad. If you need the day off, take a vacation day. Don’t lie. Be authentic.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”ED699″ via=”yes” ]If you gut says, “Don’t get caught,” then the optics are bad.[/ctt]
– Don’t make it all about you. There are too many people who take all the credit for everything. I don’t think it is “ever” just one person who made something amazing happen. When they take credit solely for whatever it is, I often think they should have acknowledged they didn’t do it alone.
Be sure to thank and acknowledge others for any accomplishment. The CEO of a company didn’t singlehandedly increase the sales by 25%. The admin didn’t singlehandedly run the company conference. You may have a very big piece in the success of your accomplishment, but you didn’t do it all alone. Name names. Point out who helped you get where you are. By not doing so, the optics are saying that you think you did it all alone when I’m hoping you realize you certainly didn’t.
– Watch the bragging. Take ownership, but it isn’t necessary to tell the world how great you are. Bragging looks bad. I realize there is a famous quote by Muhammed Ali that says, “It isn’t bragging if it is true,” but I disagree. Just because it is true doesn’t mean the world needs to hear about it.
Coming back from vacation, talking about how your hotel room cost $500/night, how you and your partner flew first class, or that your new shoes cost $800 is bragging. All of that may be true, but how does that look to your coworkers? The optics make it look like you are either paid much more than the rest of the team or are taking away a good-paying job from someone who needs it more than you. The perception is that you don’t need the job. That may or may not be true, but the optics look bad, and it may affect your reputation (jealousy can be a nasty thing).
Self-awareness is a big piece of optics. Be aware of what others see. Do the right thing. Don’t lie. Don’t make it all about you. Please take two minutes to see how it looks from a different perspective.
Politicians thought they were entitled to special treatment. They aren’t, and you aren’t. Pay attention to the optics if you care about your reputation and future.
