Intention vs. Perception
We have all been there. At some point in our careers, we received feedback that just left us scratching our heads asking, “Huh?”
There are multiple reactions that you might have taken. A few commons ones include:
Shrug off the feedback as someone who doesn’t really know you, or that the feedback is an anomaly.
Obsess over the aberration, relive every interaction, and try to guess how to avoid it in the future.
Get angry, scream to those who love you about how ridiculous the performance management process at your work is.
None of these are all that helpful. Although to be honest, a little time spent on number 3 makes us feel better (at least at first).
So what are the underlying forces typical in this kind of feedback? More often than not, it is the difference between our intention and others’ perception of our behavior. It can seem like an impossible task to anticipate the reaction of others. When we add stress to a situation, or we aren’t actively thinking about others’ reactions, the gap becomes wider. However, this is precisely why tools such as the Hogan assessments were created. These assessments help us understand and therefore predict and manage the gap between intention and perception so that we may be more successful working with and leading others. Working with a certified Hogan professional, these assessments can shed real insight into how common characteristics of a personality trait, with the addition of stress, combined with values and motivations show up in the unique individual that is you.
Hogan is a core of PassionFruit’s offerings and we hope to share this incredible experience with you to bridge the intention/perception gap and accelerate your continued success.
