Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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It’s not easy to understand how other people perceive us. Too often, we assume that our motivations and intentions are clear, when they’re really not. To learn how you’re perceived at work, follow this process.

o Select five people who observe you regularly in important work situations — bosses, executives, direct reports, peers, or even former colleagues — and ask to meet with them individually.

o Tell them what you’re hoping to learn, and ask two questions: What is the general perception of me? What could I do differently that would have the greatest impact on my success? Be clear that you’ll keep confidential whatever they say and that you’re collecting feedback from a number of colleagues.

o Look for themes and points that multiple people agree on.

If the perceptions of you are in line with what you intend, great. If not, it’s time to change your behaviors and begin to shift people’s perceptions of you.

Adapted from “How Are You Perceived at Work? Here’s an Exercise to Find Out,” by Kristi Hedges

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