Perceptions in Organizations

Perception is an important element of workplace behavior. Perception is the set of processes by which an individual becomes aware of and interprets information about the environment. If everyone perceived everything the same way, things would be a lot simpler. Of course, just the opposite is true: People perceive the same things in very different ways. Moreover, people often assume that reality is objective and that we all perceive the same things in the same way. Two basic perceptual processes are particularly relevant to managers - selective perception and stereotyping. Selective perception is the process of screening out information that we are uncomfortable with or that contradicts our beliefs. Stereotyping is categorizing or labeling people on the basis of a single attribute. Certain forms of stereotyping can be useful and efficient. Attribution refers to the way we explain the causes of our own as well as other people’ s behaviors and achievements, and understand why people do what they do. As a manager, understanding that a subordinate’ s own perceptions or attributions for success or failure determine the amount of effort he or she will expend on that activity in the future is a powerful motivational tool.