Presenting ourselves to others today is a daily necessity for each of us. Sometimes our partners are serious business people, sometimes casual acquaintances, but, regardless of professions and age, we all would like to make only a positive impression. So it happens that, choosing a style of clothing and behavior, communicating with friends and strangers or even just being present where there is another person, we already present ourselves in one way or another. To a greater extent, this happens unconsciously, one might say, at the level of “natural intuition”. However, there is also a conscious, pre-planned behavior, using special skills. This is a beautiful self-presentation about yourself. To use it briefly and beautifully is a real art.
The concept of self-presentation
Many have heard, but just do not understand the meaning of the concept of "self-presentation." This word arose as a result of mixing the English word "presentation" and the Russian phrase "myself." The Russian tradition was characterized for a long time by the concepts closer to our society: self-presentation, self-presentation, impression management.
As a new term, self-presentation can be characterized as a verbal and non-verbal demonstration of one's own personality, taking into account the specifics of social situations. Simply put, this is the ability to present oneself in various situations, an individual style of communication, a unique image. Most people - consciously or unconsciously - seek to influence the process of forming an impression of themselves, hence the various types of self-presentation.
Self-presentation and its types. Natural self-presentation
As noted above, there are two main types of it: natural and artificial.
Natural self-presentation is a property of all people, without exception. Naturally, it begins at birth with the formation of a person’s image. So, a person from infancy collects a "puzzle" of his image, without suspecting it. This happens without any deliberation and forecasting, as they say, "without second thoughts." This natural process is called natural distribution, as a result of which a person is determined in the system of social consciousness.
But it is important to remember that in the framework of this particular type of presentation, the process itself is not amenable to control and adjustment. This is the main "anti-virtue" of natural self-presentation. It is impossible to say for sure whether its effect will be positive for an individual, or whether he will have a negative color. This process can be distinguished as a thoughtless, uncontrollable personality presentation of oneself.
Artificial Self-Presentation
Until that moment, until a person acquires the ability to realize artificial self-presentation, nothing can be done about it.
The artificial self-presentation of oneself (briefly and beautifully stated) pursues the main goal - to win the favor of the person from the group of people significant for the person presented. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to build an algorithm of the communicative process with a potential audience.
Such a creative self-presentation is most accurately revealed when the natural in the eyes of people important to us looks very unprofitable, and artificially veiling it is quite possible.
A simple example: when, thanks to your temperament, even inanimate objects "dance" around you, this sometimes negatively affects family and business relationships, positioning you as a "psycho", "unbalanced" and so on. It should be remembered that the hallmark of poor, negative self-presentation is the ability to increase its negative effect several times.
Image creation
Accordingly, in order not to fall in the eyes of colleagues, it is necessary to create the image of a calm rationalist, tactics and somewhere even a pragmatist, especially if self-presentation of the leader is necessary. To earn a high mark in the family, you need to understand your family members, to have the quality of self-sacrifice for the sake of your family. Although an emotional approach may be necessary in some situations or professional activities, the main thing here is to remember that your self-presentation about yourself should be presented briefly and beautifully to the place and not cause a critically negative perception.
Of course, it’s easy to speak, but in reality it’s more and more difficult, since the natural basis of our Self, especially spoiling our appearance in the eyes of people, is torn out.
Gift or art?
And yet, self-presentation about yourself, briefly and beautifully presented, is it a gift or art? Today, a person is in various situations that arise in society. And he needs bright packaging, as well as thoughtful mottos and slogans. If we consider self-presentation through the prism of the simple sale of any product, then in this case the product is self-presentation - he himself. It is impossible to cope with each stage of selling yourself, in addition, in general, solve the problem and go through the necessary steps to success, while not possessing the acquired skills in creating a self-presentation. Just as talent is impossible without labor and daily efforts, working on ourselves is the work that we have been doing throughout our lives. Therefore, for example, the self-presentation of the educator is both a gift and an art in equal measure.
The reasons for self-presentation
However, there are reasons that prompt a person, if he has a natural self-presentation, to consciously engage in artificial.
So, a brief self-presentation allows us:
- To receive various types of resources necessary for life from other people - informational, material, emotional, etc. For a person who knows how to "give" himself, it is easier to get a job, like a man or woman.
- To construct a self-image that directly depends on personal beliefs, as well as how other people see us. So, if your jokes are laughed at by others, this will form your idea that you are a witty person, if you are talked about as knowledgeable and competent - in time you yourself will believe it.
- Quite smoothly flowing social contacts. Almost all cultures value respect for “face conservation”. Others will make comments less frequently if you tactfully present their mistakes. In communication, such behavior will significantly smooth out critical moments, reduce confrontation and aggression.
And if a person’s goal is to create the most favorable impression, then in the process of communication a person is able not only to see himself through the eyes of a partner, but also according to his expectations to adjust his behavior, and ultimately control the behavior of other people.
Performance criteria
What is the effectiveness of self-presentation? So, if the opinion that the speaker is capable of producing on the listener is one hundred percent, then eighty percent is taken from the person. And so that here the natural self-presentation does not even briefly “show the head” at the most inopportune moment, thereby pushing the artificial one in, it needs to be realized in a certain vital area, but in such a way that the essential presentation plays into the hands. If there is no such area in your life, then it must be invented.
So, for example, for reserved people, introverts, but working in an area that requires a lot of communication, sociability, enterprise, daily privacy is necessary, for which it is enough to allocate at least an hour. Extroverts are also recommended to engage in some kind of activity appropriate to their temperament, sometimes even extreme sports. All of these tips are as old as the world, and currently there is nothing new.
Self tuning
To learn how to sell yourself, and the self-presentation of a teacher, educator or person of any other profession was successful and permanent, you need to know and be able to do a lot. To begin with, it is important to remember that our appearance, behavior, style are all of us.
The first thing to do before presenting yourself is to carefully study and analyze the potential audience, its inherent manner of communication and behavior, way of thinking, style of appearance, preference.
After that, you need to start working on yourself, that is, build self-tuning for a specific audience for future self-presentation. And there is no place for laziness in this matter, it is important to be thorough and to achieve involvement in oneself, as they say.
Using this tactic, people who will be focused on your self-presentation will perceive you as a referent worthy of their attention and respect. This technique is described as “psychological stroking”. Today, this is the most effective way to influence society. It’s as if you are becoming a part of the group of people that you want to impress, and they categorizing “yours — alien” referring you to “yours” successfully accept you. Such self-presentation is a guarantee of success.
Self-presentation of dominance
There is another way of artificial self-presentation, the basis of which is also analyzing a potential audience. This method is called "self-presentation of dominance." The technique of this method lies in the fact that in the group that needs to be influenced accordingly, you present yourself as a standard, thereby acting as an informal leader. However, it must be remembered that this strategy is only suitable for groups of so-called “led” people, in a group with “leaders” this method of self-presentation may fail. To avoid this, it is necessary to carefully analyze the potential audience. At the same time, a group or an audience refers to both several people and one.
Algorithm
Currently, there are a sufficient number of “self-presentation” methods, but when choosing them, you must strictly follow the algorithm:
- Analysis of the "potential audience", which is aimed at "self-presentation".
- The basis of the first stage - the strategy of non-verbal and verbal manifestations of the personality should correspond to the place of self-presentation and the time period for its implementation.
- Your actions are subject to control and coordination in accordance with the situation.
- Natural self-presentation should be realized outside the artificial context.
It is important to always remember that you are your face. And if, in your opinion, it makes sense in artificial self-presentation, then veiling, correcting and changing yourself is in your hands.
Good luck