The Power of Perception: The Impact of Perception on Performance

The philosopher states that perception is reality.  That is, what we know and understand to be true is not necessarily reality itself, it is reality as it is filtered through our method of looking at it.  Perception thus becomes our truth and begins to impact all our experience.

This class explores how perceptions impact relationships and performance.  A student teacher, not knowing the typical behaviors and performance of her class full of ‘troublemakers’, has a perception that they are gifted and brilliant.  Amazingly, as she acts upon her perception, there is a turn-around in the students’ performance.  True stories like this are explored to demonstrate how the assumptions we make about people influence performance.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn how we unconsciously label people and trap them in our point of view
  • Learn how to avoid making common perceptual errors
  • Learn how to challenge your biases and improve your social intelligence
  • Learn how to improve your relationships by making powerful, positive assumptions about people