Perception

Hi All…welcome back.

Have you ever wondered how you are perceived?

Not weather you are liked or not, but how others see you (some of you are now affronted by the wrong form of a word being used…as I am by the use of collective pronouns to describe an individual (just a pet peeve) …and others are wondering what the hell I am banging on about).

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I have recently had the chance to give some assisting work to a college student. I am almost old enough to be her grandfather. So, how does she see me? Am I a work colleague? A teacher? A mentor? A boss, or just an old bugger that should get out of the way and let the young folks do their thing?

I’m pretty sure it’s not the latter ☺

Of course, different people can have different perceptions of the same thing/person.

Depending on your point of view this is an eyesore, an opportunity or a classic.

Perspective is a major influence.

Are you a young person looking up, or a more mature person looking down? Are you the boss or the employee?

During a 30-odd-year career at the same workplace my perceptions of the same people changed over time depending on my age and experience. Perspectives change.

I often wonder about the dynamics between myself and my clients. A lot of them are younger than me, but effectively they are my employer. I need to follow instruction, but I am the professional…the one who is supposed to know what he is doing…the one with the experience…the one required to deliver the goods. Who defers to who? Apart from providing a service, what is the expectation?

Two of my best friends are considerably younger than me. I wonder if they see me as a peer, an old bloke who is trying to stall time a bit, or a kind of father figure (I can almost hear them laughing).

Well, this has been interesting. Not one of my normal topics. Lots of questions. I’m not sure I have any answers, but I would love to hear what you think.

Until next time…

Cheers