Impression Management In Organizations

Excerpts from “Impression Management in Organizations” from the journal “Journal of Management Volume 14, No. 2, 1988” state that there are three reasons why a conceptual review of IM is needed in the area of management (William L. Gardener, Mark J. Martinko). First, impression management techniques employed by individuals in an organization are related with their individual success and their promotions. Second, impression management techniques are also an important mechanism to get support of others for whatever actions they are performing. Third, since many impression management techniques can be controlled and are conscious, so they can also help to influence or manipulate the manager’s behavioral repertoire for both personal as well as

The dimensions are: physical appearance, traits signals, direct and indirect acquisitive and direct and indirect protective. These dimensions combine with impression management metaphors of yes-man, dramaturgical, manipulator and multiple-selves which helps to shape the pattern of impression management in industries. Every human being shows its multiple selves during various occasions. For example, he wears different clothes and bears different emotions on different occasions which he tries to create an image and make himself fit for the organization. Dramaturgical metaphor states that every person is an actor. Every person is a part of dramatizing and takes a particular role. Manager should know about what roles its subordinates are playing in order to know about their demands and why they are behaving in such a manner. Yes- man metaphor states that subordinates always say “Yes- sir” to everything when they are in need of something. They need to be closely watched as they try to create a good image among their mangers. Manipulator consists of a situation in which people use some technique to manipulate others. Organizational politician metaphor states about the situation in which people claim that they have power that they can manipulate industry’s decision.

P. Schoderbek and Satish P. Deshpande states that there is no much difference in the ethical conduct conducted by male managers and female managers. But according to Satish Deshpande, there is a significant higher level of impression management followed in case of female managers as compared to male managers. This shows that female managers form more favourable impressions as compared to male managers and study also shows that female managers are more affected by the males due to desirability of various items. Research also shows that women also use emotional factors to make decisions at