Recognizing the impact and influence of perceptions when we communicate will allow a better interpretation of the facts. Many times when issuing an opinion we say: “It seems to me ……” “It is differently ……” “I think ……” “I don't see it that way…”. This is the moment when the perceptions that we have about a person or an event stain reality and cause us to act based on feelings and not rationally. To better understand the influence of perceptions in interpersonal communication, let's see the meaning of perception:
Perception: (from l. Perceptione). Action and effect of perceiving. Idea (notion). The impression we have of a person or situation. Perceptions are the result of our interpretation of things.
Perceptions allow to become aware in an elemental and rapid way of the presence of another person, of a situation or thing. This process is based on sensory stimuli conditioned by cultural guidelines. Being an individual process, the influence of others is in a certain way determining.
All people have referential schemes, that is, a set of knowledge and experiences. These referential schemes organize the information that is kept in memory and represent in the mind the way in which the social world unfolds.
In this frame of reference, the perceptions that will influence our judgment of others and the communication we establish are formed.
It is known that the main function of social communication is to be the pillar where interpersonal relationships are sustained
The word communication has an etymological meaning that is; sharing, communion, participation, human interaction.
It is very important to take into account when communicating with another or other people, the way in which we elaborate the message and its content, since in it we emit and transmit judgments about others and the causes of their behaviors.
Communication specialists establish the need for two roles to carry out interpersonal communication: a sender and a receiver. By considering the influence of perceptions as an important factor in communications, we can better understand the messages that are emitted and the characteristics of them.
When communicated verbally or in writing, the following occurs:
The output is the message sent. The entrance is who receives it. When we receive an input, we process it and form insights.
Communications are processed within the individual frame of reference. The individual frame of reference is made up of a variety of factors:
Education
Cultural guidelines
Beliefs
Attitude
Experience
Age
Sex
Place of residence
It is important to keep in mind that the frame of reference is individual, so it differs from one person to another. An example: in a daily situation, when getting up in the morning in our home it is usual to say, "Good morning"; for each of the members of the family will have a different stimulus. The mother can answer with joy, but the father got up very early to answer, “Good afternoon”, the message is the same, the individual frames of reference produce different perceptions, which in turn generate different responses.
This process that forms the perceptions occurs unconsciously and at high speed, which makes most of the time the mind, forms impressions, makes judgments and reaches conclusions without people thinking consciously, it happens automatically. So every time we interact we have perceptions and these have a significant impact on the way people react or respond.
Upon receiving the message, the receiver responds according to what he "perceives" as true, even if this does not conform to "reality". Perceptions exert a powerful influence on behavior, because they represent the particular interpretation of the facts. You respond with your own impressions of others and your personal explanation of events.
Communication is done through three types of signals:
Visual: Everything the perceiver sees (non-verbal or body language).
Vocal: The characteristics of the voice when speaking.
Verbal: The words and phrases we use.
When two people interact face to face, the perceptions originated by visual (body language) and vocal signals (tones of voice, volume, timbre, flow of words, etc.) are those that have the greatest impact on the reaction and response of the receiver., given that the message is going to be processed from that individual frame of reference and its particularities.
When there is communication without visual signals, such as telephone contact, vocal and verbal signals predominate and words have the greatest impact and it is these that will shape the perceptions.
In written communications, including e-mails, the words used and the formality suggest the relationship.
In each way of communication, the signals shape the perceptions that are configured in the mind of the person who reads the message or listens.
Ideally, all signs should be arranged to create the closest realistic impression.
Perceptions in the workplace
Technological, economic and social changes pose new ways of doing work and the time that it occupies us. This makes a minimum of 10 hours in our places of employment, which will generate interpersonal relationships of greater diversity at the same time of great complexity. The demands of new capacities for performance, greater creativity, an induction oriented to the permanent motivation of the efficient fulfillment of tasks, organize modifications in the perceptual systems of people.
They learn to see reality, they build it, as they relate to each other, hence the importance of communication in interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
When we interact with others in the workplace, it is important to establish effective communication, and for this we must think about the tones and the words that we use. Words, in many cases, strike people's feelings, can instigate favorable or unfavorable perceptions, which sets off positive or negative reactions. There are many people who repeat words without thinking about their content, simply because they behave by imitation or what they hear is copied.
As we think about the meaning of each word we use, we become aware that they generate perceptions. When we emit positive and motivating messages, we will have responses of the same nature, and many people can be enthusiastic about the proposal.
Now, if the phrases or words are hurtful, degrading, discriminatory, potentially disqualifying, or hackneyed expressions, they allow people to get defensive, creating a resistance in collaboration and this always undermines efficient work performance. How many times do we attend conferences and courses in our professional career, and hear slogans such as: "challenges and opportunities", what do we perceive from these words? What response does it provoke when we listen to them? The reactions to these expressions can be indifference, "again the same thing" "hmm, always the same problem" "I already heard this", that is why we must take into account, when Trite phrases are said, which many people stop hearing, perceive them as a repetition of what they heard thousands of times,others may also misinterpret the message, if it was not clear and complete.
By repeatedly using acronyms, abbreviations and words, which, although they will be quickly interpreted within a professional or work environment, can be harmful, since people over time get tired of hearing them and the initial impact is diluted with the use, they will perceive it as a lack of modification and flexibility in the organization's structures. We observed it in previous years where business slang was populated with words such as “paradigm” “strategies” “globalization” “e-learning” “e-business”, plus all those provided by advertising on television and newspapers.
On the contrary, if we have to communicate with people who are not familiar with clichés, acronyms or foreign words, we are going to generate that the message does not make sense, and they can come to understand it differently, misinterpreting it, perhaps the perception of the interlocutor is of exclusion. This does not mean that these terms are not used, but rather that they should be used when they have a real meaning for the listener.
Let's think that many times there is a disparity between what a person perceives as real and reality itself. That is why perception is very important for the person, since "her perception" is "her reality", anything else that is said or appears is rejected.
For those who lead an Organization or work teams it is always convenient to reflect on how people perceive the message and also what is the perception of one.
It is important to know that external factors influence the characteristics of the communication. If we are in the company, the place and time in which the communication is carried out, the environment and the way of manifesting of the person with whom we are interacting will generate different reactions, an example: in a work meeting, to one Of the members, only five minutes are granted to present a case, the person may perceive that their subject is not important due to what they feel the pressure of time, so they speak faster than they usually do. Now, if the environment is noisy, it raises the volume of the voice and speaks louder than usual. The people who listen to him also perceive the change in attitude of the exhibitor and may believe that it is because he did not prepare the case very well,You may be afraid to expose or you are just in a rush and want to leave.
Although the way in which the different characteristics of the exhibitor are perceived varies, in general they all cause an effect, which can be positive or negative.
In a society as mediated as ours, the image is of great importance. The expression "A picture is worth a thousand words" helps us to think when we interact face to face with other people about the visual signals we emit and what others can perceive of us.
The image is represented through a gesture, a smile, a frown, dress, manners, expressions, etc. they are signals that make an impression on others. Some signals are very subtle so that many people do not take them into consideration, others are obvious and have a significant impact on the perception that others have of you and the message you are sending.
For this reason, when communicating, we must be attentive to the signals we emit to build positive communications. In the different scenarios in which it interacts, it is necessary to consistently perform verbal, visual and vocal signals.
When having leadership responsibilities in the workplace, we must be careful to distinguish our perceptions about an employee and the facts that shape their performance. If you have an unfavorable impression of an employee, do not automatically dismiss their work or ideas, they may have a lot of value and produce positive results. Also try to evaluate in the most objective way possible the performance and ideas of the person who is perceived positively. Recall Peter Drucker's advice: “Efficient executives never ask how do I like him? They ask what does he contribute? (The Effective Executive, Harper & Row, 1967).
Whenever we interact with others, we influence their perceptions, opinions and the way they respond, in the same way that other people influence us, which is why relationship skills are necessary, to inspire trust, foster collaboration, persuade, mediate conflicts and, most importantly, communicate clearly and constructively.
Important
Knowing how perceptions influence real events will allow them not to interfere with our opinion and before we act, respond or react, we can handle them. If we allow ourselves to function with the first impressions of our personal perceptions, it is to let ourselves be carried away by feelings and not by rationality. First, to make correct decisions and to be perceived as someone who does, you have to gather the facts and evaluate them logically. The best decision is the most informed.
