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Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Show Your Negative Trait: A way to increase Credibility?
lifehack.org: "A blog called Smart Graduate School Applications has an article on a phenomenon: If you deliberately showing a weakness trait, it helps to increase your credibility."
13 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Interesting - but there is also the philosophy that when people tell you "confidentially" of their minor weaknesses or lapses in ethics, they are really hiding much bigger lapses.
I hate it when a waiter suggests the most expensive item - so this is nice - on the other hand, he is hoping you give him a bigger tip - right? So really did you save money?
This is very interesting, since, where I worked this summer, I often did this to let customers know what was really happening. I will say that it is definitely a way to earn credibility. I think it is more human for someone to actually help a customer out than to make sure Dominos gets that extra 4.99 for a pack of cheesy sticks that the costumer never really needed.
This is an interesting theory, but what if it backfires? What if that is their favorite dish and you just insulted the customer, rather than earn their trust? It doesn't seem like a foolproof method by any means.
This waiter is indeed smart and tricky. The customer might think there might be an issue with the dish they first choose. Perhaps, we can use and transfer this case to convince the director not spend much money or to make him not change idea.
The waiter is pulling the "I'm looking out for your best interest" card which is a nice way to appeal to the better side of anyone's nature. However, just because you get someone to switch their entree won't magically make them hungry enough for apetizers or dessert. It will, however, weigh in when they're factoring what percentage to use for tip calculation, which is really what the waiter wants in the first place. - Maddie Regan
So this is also similar to providing a weakness so that the other person will sympathize with you. For example, you sell papes on the street in New York around the turn of the century and you use a younger kid who acts sick to help you sell papers. Here, the kid makes people sympathize with him in order to sell his "last pape".
It works well. Often times when I was at Ravinia I would commiserate against charging babies for tickets but then point out that it's not my policy. also, this also works well when dealing with criticism because it shows that we are aware of our shortcomings and are willing to face them.
It's basically about agreeing with a co-worker or customer on at least one thing (which you may or may not agree with) in order to get them to do another thing which they dont want to do. And as harriet said the "it's not MY policy is a good one"...nothing like the good old "don't shoot the messenger" saying.
Dare I say honesty (about oneself, the food one is selling, or one's abilities) is the best policy. I find a certain warmth in people when they are aware of their shortcomings...it makes them seem more human and approachable. But, like all things, there needs to be a careful blend of honesty and confidence - otherwise you can come off like a mench. And no one likes a mench.
This article offers advice that could work, but it risks loosing credibility as well. If one was to mention weaker traits, say inability to time manage, someone hiring would be unwilling to work with that person. This, like many actions is a double edged sword that could backfire in horrendous ways.
Having something obviously negative or a negative trait that you reveal can also get people to overlook less obvious failures. If a reviewer is simply looking for something to comment on, or to pick out a weakness, revealing one or having an obvious pick could get them to stop there. For example, if one was being "advised" by an "advisor" on set dressing, you could hang a picture on the wall crooked. This would warrent a comment of "straighten that picture" but they might be distracted enough that they don't even look at the picture itself.
Interesting theory - showing one's cards often encourgaes thoughts of sincerity in an audience, BUT, one could argue, is there an aletrnative motive? Are we seeking to establish open ground for communication and trust? Or we hoping that through the sharing of "confidential" information about ourselves to early on, that someone else will do the same and therefore establish a 'joint componnet of vulnerability.' Spekaing truth is essential, but to over share, inapproriate.
13 comments:
Interesting - but there is also the philosophy that when people tell you "confidentially" of their minor weaknesses or lapses in ethics, they are really hiding much bigger lapses.
I hate it when a waiter suggests the most expensive item - so this is nice - on the other hand, he is hoping you give him a bigger tip - right? So really did you save money?
This is very interesting, since, where I worked this summer, I often did this to let customers know what was really happening. I will say that it is definitely a way to earn credibility. I think it is more human for someone to actually help a customer out than to make sure Dominos gets that extra 4.99 for a pack of cheesy sticks that the costumer never really needed.
This is an interesting theory, but what if it backfires? What if that is their favorite dish and you just insulted the customer, rather than earn their trust? It doesn't seem like a foolproof method by any means.
-A Siebert
it can work. but who is stupid enough to order hundred dollars wine by being recommended one cheaper dish? i don't think it really matters.
This waiter is indeed smart and tricky. The customer might think there might be an issue with the dish they first choose.
Perhaps, we can use and transfer this case to convince the director not spend much money or to make him not change idea.
The waiter is pulling the "I'm looking out for your best interest" card which is a nice way to appeal to the better side of anyone's nature. However, just because you get someone to switch their entree won't magically make them hungry enough for apetizers or dessert. It will, however, weigh in when they're factoring what percentage to use for tip calculation, which is really what the waiter wants in the first place. - Maddie Regan
So this is also similar to providing a weakness so that the other person will sympathize with you. For example, you sell papes on the street in New York around the turn of the century and you use a younger kid who acts sick to help you sell papers. Here, the kid makes people sympathize with him in order to sell his "last pape".
It works well. Often times when I was at Ravinia I would commiserate against charging babies for tickets but then point out that it's not my policy.
also, this also works well when dealing with criticism because it shows that we are aware of our shortcomings and are willing to face them.
It's basically about agreeing with a co-worker or customer on at least one thing (which you may or may not agree with) in order to get them to do another thing which they dont want to do. And as harriet said the "it's not MY policy is a good one"...nothing like the good old "don't shoot the messenger" saying.
-Samantha Englender
Dare I say honesty (about oneself, the food one is selling, or one's abilities) is the best policy. I find a certain warmth in people when they are aware of their shortcomings...it makes them seem more human and approachable. But, like all things, there needs to be a careful blend of honesty and confidence - otherwise you can come off like a mench. And no one likes a mench.
-J Bogush
This article offers advice that could work, but it risks loosing credibility as well. If one was to mention weaker traits, say inability to time manage, someone hiring would be unwilling to work with that person. This, like many actions is a double edged sword that could backfire in horrendous ways.
Having something obviously negative or a negative trait that you reveal can also get people to overlook less obvious failures.
If a reviewer is simply looking for something to comment on, or to pick out a weakness, revealing one or having an obvious pick could get them to stop there.
For example, if one was being "advised" by an "advisor" on set dressing, you could hang a picture on the wall crooked. This would warrent a comment of "straighten that picture" but they might be distracted enough that they don't even look at the picture itself.
Interesting theory - showing one's cards often encourgaes thoughts of sincerity in an audience, BUT, one could argue, is there an aletrnative motive? Are we seeking to establish open ground for communication and trust? Or we hoping that through the sharing of "confidential" information about ourselves to early on, that someone else will do the same and therefore establish a 'joint componnet of vulnerability.' Spekaing truth is essential, but to over share, inapproriate.
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