Perception: A Guide for Managers and Leaders

Abstract

Managers and leaders in organization are entrusted with employees whom they must work with and through to realize organizational objectives. In organizations, perceptions of leaders, managers and employees shape the climate and effectiveness of the working environment. Perception is the way we all interpret our experiences. Having the right perception is significant skill for any effective leadership. It is important to understand that perception is often portrayed through communication in any organization be it big or small and therefore, it is a pertinent tool in leadership. What sets great leaders apart is their ability to manage perceptions in the process of handling people and organizational issues. What people often observe or assess as your ability to be a leader and your effectiveness becomes their perception, which in turn becomes reality.Keywords: Perception, Organizations, Decisions, Leaders and Managers. PerceptionPsychological investigation of human behavior began with the study of perception by Wielheim Wundh in Germany, in 1879. Since that time it has been significant in understanding human behavior. The important revelation is that no two people experience and interpret sensations, situations, or their own feelings the same way. Just like lights, that sequentially flash on and off are perceived as motion, people use visual and auditory causes around them to interpret and react to their immediate environment. In addition to external influences people also react to internal feelings, ideas, expectations based on past experiences and other personality experiences they might have. Perception in leadershipIn organizations, perceptions of leaders, managers and employees shape the climate and effectiveness of the working environment. Perception is the way we all interpret our experiences. It is a marvelous and difficult part of human behavior; managers must realize that all individuals have differing perceptions.People are not necessarily successful by attempting to serve their values. People do not, in fact, do what serves their values. They do what they perceive will serve their values. First, this means that there is always a time gap between the brain's consideration of a behavior and the behavior itself. Second, the processing that takes place in this time period, Is what can be referred to as perception. In the work place, when employees and employers have very strong differing perceptions about quality, quantity, schedules, etc, it becomes very difficult to accomplish meaningful objectives.Most of the time people believe that they are effective and efficient leaders using their perception but their supposed followers may have a very different perception. In scientific community Berelson and Steiner in their book Human behavior, define perception as the complex process by which people select and organize sensory stimulation into a meaningful and rational picture of the world. We react to specific situations based on what we see rather than on what it really is. Often we see only what we wa...

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“…Perception is also an individual's sensory experience of the environment in which he or she lives and is at the same time focused on the recognition of environmental stimuli and typical actions that are a response to such stimuli. Moreover Otara (2011) proposed that managing perceptions in the process of dealing with employees and organizational challenges is typically what distinguishes great from average leaders. Elsbach (2003) suggested that the topic of organizational perception management has its roots way back in history from the times of ancient Greece.…”

“…According to Aktepebasi et al (2018) perception management in organizations can be explained as the understanding and valuation process of the individual about the environment and the authors emphasized the importance of it. Otara (2011) proposed that in organizations, different perceptions of stakeholders such as leaders, managers, and employees have an important role in determining organizational climate and overall effectiveness of the working environment.…”

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“…Management also relies on the acquisition, distribution and utilization of the current resources and structures. Leadership on the other hand is responsible for designing new resources and opportunities for the future (Otara, 2011). Finally, both leadership and management deal with human resource management, however, management tends to be tactical to achieve success in the day to day performance of employees.…”