Daniel Johnson, Jr.

Last week I mentioned I’m teaching a class on Interpersonal Communications this term at Antonelli College. It’s designed to reinforce and expand interpersonal communication as it relates to having a successful business in the world today. The context for the course encompasses psychological, relational, situational, environmental, and cultural communication. We’re learning how interactions and reactions have a direct connection in the professional setting.

The textbook, which we got from Cengage, called IPC.

Interpersonal Communications Series – Week 2

Each week I assign for homework a journal entry about something we cover in class. I don’t require that they share it publicly since that may mean they choose not to be as vulnerable as they could be.

I also mentioned that I’m doing the homework along with my students, but I’m doing it here on this blog.

You’re free to join in the discussion, if you’d like.

Misconceptions others have about you

What are some of the misconceptions you believe others have about you?

This is a tricky question, when I consider it in the context of what we learned in Chapter 2, Communication, Perception, and the Self. The main theme is that we cannot always trust our perceptions. This means not only that others have misconceptions about me, but also I have misconceptions about their misconceptions about me.

Right?

All is rosy

I think one of the biggest misconceptions others have about me is that everything is great in my world. I don’t like making my circumstances be the most interesting thing about me, so I try to put on a good face.

It’s a dangerous thing.

Last fall, in a post entitled “Open Up and Get Real,” I wrote:

Whatever we say online builds the brand, the reputation, that others who pay attention to us see. We have a tremendous ability to influence that across so many different channels. It’s become easy to paint a picture that things are rosy, when in all likelihood they might not be.

Online and offline, you form opinions about me based on your interactions with me. It’s what personal branding is about.

I’m influencing your perceptions by what I publish online for you to see.
I’m influencing your perceptions by how I try to present myself when we meet in-person.

All is not so rosy

So I’ll be honest.

I’m going through some harrowing circumstances right now, yet I’m not convinced that this forum is a good place to share what those are. Even now, as I write this, I’m struggling with exactly how much to share. I don’t like my circumstances being the most interesting thing about me.

Feel free to reach out privately if you’d like to know more.

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