Impression Management

Definition

Impression management refers to the process by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others form of them. It involves strategically presenting oneself in a way that shapes others' perceptions and influences how they are viewed within an organization or social setting.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Impression management is a key aspect of political behavior in organizations, as individuals often engage in strategic self-presentation to gain power, influence, and advance their interests.
2. Effective impression management can help employees secure promotions, obtain resources, and build stronger professional relationships within the organization.
3. Individuals high in self-monitoring are more likely to engage in impression management behaviors, as they are more attuned to social cues and the impressions they make on others.
4. Impression management tactics can range from positive behaviors like self-promotion and ingratiation to more manipulative tactics like deception and intimidation.
5. Overreliance on impression management can lead to inauthentic behaviors and a lack of trust, which can undermine an individual's credibility and effectiveness within the organization.

Review Questions

• Explain how impression management relates to political behavior in organizations.
  • Impression management is closely tied to political behavior in organizations, as individuals often engage in strategic self-presentation to gain power, influence, and advance their interests. By carefully controlling the impressions they make on others, employees can secure promotions, obtain resources, and build stronger professional relationships within the organization. Effective impression management can help individuals navigate the political landscape and achieve their desired outcomes, making it a key aspect of organizational politics.
• Describe the role of self-monitoring in impression management.
  • Individuals high in self-monitoring are more likely to engage in impression management behaviors, as they are more attuned to social cues and the impressions they make on others. Self-monitoring involves closely observing and regulating one's own behavior in order to control the perceptions and impressions formed by others. Employees who are high in self-monitoring are more likely to adapt their behavior and self-presentation to the specific situation and audience, allowing them to more effectively manage the impressions they convey within the organization.
• Analyze the potential risks and drawbacks of overrelying on impression management tactics.
  • While effective impression management can be beneficial for individuals in organizational settings, overreliance on these tactics can lead to negative consequences. Engaging in inauthentic behaviors and manipulative impression management tactics can undermine an individual's credibility and trustworthiness within the organization. Employees who are perceived as overly concerned with managing their image rather than focusing on their work and contributions may be viewed as lacking in genuine competence and integrity. This can ultimately hinder their ability to build strong, productive relationships and effectively influence others, undermining their overall effectiveness and success within the organization.

Related terms

Self-Presentation: The conscious or unconscious process by which people attempt to influence the perceptions and impressions others form of them.

Self-Monitoring: The tendency to closely observe and regulate one's own behavior in order to control the impressions they make on others.

Ingratiation: A tactic of impression management where individuals try to make themselves more appealing and likable to others, often through flattery or conformity.