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  • December 2004 (Revised August 2005)
  • Exercise

Orientation to the Public Image Assessment Exercise

By: Robin J. Ely
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:5
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Abstract

The Public Image Assessment exercise acquaints students with the ideal images they hold of themselves, the actions they engage in to convey these images, and the benefits and costs of these behaviors to themselves and to others. Social psychologists call this process impression management. Although managing others' impressions of us is a natural part of life--and there are good, pragmatic reasons for being concerned with the images we present to others--problems arise when people are driven by concerns about others' assessments of them. When the goal of validating one's image becomes more important than others, the task, or a group's mission, it becomes difficult to learn, take risks, and experiment.

Keywords

Reputation; Perception

Citation

Ely, Robin J. "Orientation to the Public Image Assessment Exercise." Harvard Business School Exercise 405-057, December 2004. (Revised August 2005.)
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About The Author

Robin J. Ely

Organizational Behavior
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  • Racial Inequality in Organizations: A Systems Psychodynamic Perspective By: Sanaz Mobasseri, William A. Kahn and Robin J. Ely
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