Presentation

noun: a talk giving information about something; an occasion when prizes, qualifications, etc. are formally given to those who have won or achieved them; the way something looks when it is shown to other people, or the way someone looks

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Allow me to present: a presentation on presentation. Wait, does a blog post qualify as a presentation?

Presentation can affect almost anything. When we present someone with a present, its presentation will have a significant impact on how that gift is received. Is it wrapped? Is there a price label still on it? Was it handed to the recipient with care or slung like it meant nothing? I suppose it would perhaps be more accurate to say: presentation affects our perception of everything. As our perception creates our reality, how things are presented to us, and how we present things – including ourselves – to others shapes both the world around us and our place in it.

How we see things is how we believe them to be, which, in turn, dictates how we treat them. Whatever the rights and wrongs of this truth, there are few who would treat royalty the same way as they would treat a beggar. They’ve never spoken to either before, but they perceive a difference in the way the beggar presents themselves compared to the member of the royal family, and react accordingly. This principle applies in almost every walk of life…

The person who turns up to work in a pristine uniform and maintains that appearance throughout the day – even if this is accomplished by doing very little – is seen as smart, professional, and is treated as such. Their colleague who runs around like a headless chicken, works up a sweat and – heaven forbid – creases their shirt in the process, appears scruffy and uncaring, and is also treated as they are perceived to be. Tell me: which of these two hypothetical workers do you think is up for promotion?

There is another – in my opinion – more important layer to the significance of self-presentation: how it makes us see ourselves. Even the most introverted of human beings is still a social creature. A pack animal. A member of society. However hard we try, we cannot help but be affected at some level by how we are treated by those around us. How we are treated is a reflection of how we are perceived. How we are perceived is directly linked to how we present ourselves – whether we like it or not. There is, however, another, less obvious consequence of this truth…

We are all well aware, whether consciously, unconsciously or both, that how we present ourselves will affect how we are treated. Therefore, when we know we have presented ourselves in the best way we are able, we expect to be treated accordingly before we even set foot out the door! It’s a bit like when we’re presented with a meal that looks absolutely delicious: you’re almost enjoying it before you try it. If you know you’re looking your best, you know you’ll be treated well. This makes you more confident, which affects your demeanour, which affects how you are perceived, which affects how you are treated, which affects how you feel about yourself, which makes you want to present yourself as best you can. This creates a sort of loop – almost the opposite of a vicious circle. What would we call it? A positive presentation loop?

I hope you found the points raised here well-presented, if nothing else, dear reader. More importantly, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, and keep protecting that subconscious mind of yours by not thinking too much!

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