Ask HR: I am performing well. Why should my countenance at work matter?
What you need to know:
- How do you think you come across to others? Do you consider your line manager’s feedback entirely misplaced?
- Have you received any feedback from a colleague that corroborates your opinion? Do you consider yourself dull? Do you carry the same countenance you did when you joined the organisation, including when you went through the interview process?
- Have you changed in the course of your employment or has your line manager? Are you happy or merely happy the way you are?
My line manager says that I am too dull in the office and that it reflects poorly on our team. She says that I do not look happy or welcoming to others. She has asked me to smile more and mind how I come across to others yet I am happy the way I am. Should this matter if I am doing my job well?
How we come across to others invariably informs how they engage with us and, in some cases, whether they relate with us at all. Although it is not possible for all people to have the same appearance, it is important not to wear expressions that could make it difficult for others to interact with us productively at work. It is indeed possible for one to bear a countenance that undermines social climate within a team. Few colleagues would desire regular interactions with gargoyles around the office.
How do you think you come across to others? Do you consider your line manager’s feedback entirely misplaced? Have you received any feedback from a colleague that corroborates your opinion? Do you consider yourself dull? Do you carry the same countenance you did when you joined the organisation, including when you went through the interview process? Have you changed in the course of your employment or has your line manager? Are you happy or merely happy the way you are?
Doing a good job is crucial to meeting your work objectives and contributing to your organisation’s performance. While it is true that no amount of smiling could be a substitute for revenues or purposes for which an organisation exists, do not underestimate the impact of your disposition and quality of interactions with others in building your personal brand and career as a professional. It may be unusual to have a welcoming disposition as an integral requirement for your job, yet this quality is not trivial. Relationships with others benefit from seemingly minor social cues that cost little to espouse.
There is a place for cheer and camaraderie in any organisation. To what extent are you contributing to this in your work environment? You have the opportunity to make a difference. Do not carry the appearance of someone who has ingested something exceedingly tangy. Develop a personal social signature that supports your career aspirations.
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