#471 survey says

My sister sent me an interesting link regarding a Business Insider poll that was conducted with 1600 Survey Monkey users.  They asked participants to answer opinion questions about states other than their own.  Results are then shown in a series of interesting maps:
http://www.businessinsider.com/poll-how-americans-feel-about-the-states-2013-8

Examples include:
> Which state is the nicest?  [The survey says: Georgia and Minnesota]

> Which state is your favorite?  [California and Colorado]

>  Which state has the ugliest residents?  [Alabama]

> Which state is the rudest?  [New York]

You can follow the link for more results.  What strikes me is how people have formed opinions about these things and are willing to choose one state out of the Union to make their judgment.  It is doubtful that the voters have even been to all the states they chose, let alone know enough information to make a reasoned choice, but they cast their answers anyway.

And so it goes with your organization.  People who may have never interacted with you are forming perceptions -- not only about you, but how you stack up against your peers.  The U.S. News and World Report college rankings [something I loathe] gives campuses a peer assessment score that figures into where colleges rate.  The peer voters may have never heard of your school or be ignorant of any changes you have made, but they rate you anyway.

You need to acknowledge the reality that people are forming perceptions of you.  Do what you can to provide those who do know you with factual information and stories to share, and don't lose sleep over the judgments people are making without merit.  They're probably all just from that rude state anyway, right?

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com