Marci Alboher writes in her blog about the book Sway — why we respond to irrational impulses.
Interviewing the authors, she uncovered an important reality: first impressions count.
One described a lawyer who worked hard to impress everyone as a hard worker: first in, last out, few breaks, no personal calls. As time went on, he began taking more breaks and longer lunches . Nobody noticed. His reputation as a hard worker was safe.
That is so true! When I was an academic I was known as a researcher. So I was rarely asked to serve on time-consuming (and time-wasting committees and task forces. I was left alone to do research. I used to joke that I could sit in my office and do my nails and everyone would say, “Don’ t bother her. She’s doing research.”