This oft heard adage that says "When in Rome do as Romans do", is sounding more and more convincing as years go by and we travel around the country. Our country itself is so regionally and culturally diverse that many Romes make up this beautiful land. Every city, town, metro is different not only in language, but the way you dress, speak, eat, behave, commute, socialise, celebrate, etc etc. Since we have moved about quite a few cities in the past 8 yrs I think I am in a fairly good position to see first hand how we ourselves have changed a little bit in every city to gel with the crowd.
Superficial changes in my wardrobe, language and attitude have helped me mingle with the societies in every city. I think you as a person are considered "safe and normal" when you appear like the rest. If you are too hip or too local, then mostly you are just shunned as someone with an attitude or somebody not your class. In either case one would end up with no company and eventually nobody to socialise with.
But what is it about appearances that make us judge a person without even bothering to get to know him/her? What is it they say about first impression being the last one.
Your personality cannot take a 360 degree turn, but just a few little touches here and there can get the ball rolling.
The same rule applies in corporate culture. Are we all speaking the same language, essentially translates into does everybody think in the same direction, have similar values and are we moving towards a common objective. At work if somebody thinks radically different, dresses or behaves unlike everyone else, then he is quickly labelled an eccentric. Without as much as giving the chance of something creative that could solve the problem in a much easier way, bosses would much rather go the beaten path.
Whenever somebody has had the courage to take the path less travelled, it has reaped success. But for that one needs total belief in that path.
I am usually good with gauging a person's personality with the impression i get from the first meeting. There have been several instances in my life where i have had to change my thoughts about a person, but eventually in time, i always go back to the first impression i had formed about him/her. This has helped me in life and i consider it as part of my sixth sense.
We take a lot of pain in keeping up our appearances in order to make a good impression whether its to our bosses, guests at a party or in-laws and relatives.
I guess that's why whenever I set foot into my own house after returning from a trip to my kid's school or a 2 week long vacation, the feeling is always of great relief. Its a place where i am ME. I dont have to care about appearances or impressions... i am just myself.
Why cant we shed our pre conceived notions and just accept people the way they are? Why do we judge people by the way they dress ? Why is it that when we travel we go with an open mind and are accepting of everything that comes our way. Is that the reason we enjoy our vacations so much ? Because we allow our mind to open up and breathe....
Superficial changes in my wardrobe, language and attitude have helped me mingle with the societies in every city. I think you as a person are considered "safe and normal" when you appear like the rest. If you are too hip or too local, then mostly you are just shunned as someone with an attitude or somebody not your class. In either case one would end up with no company and eventually nobody to socialise with.
But what is it about appearances that make us judge a person without even bothering to get to know him/her? What is it they say about first impression being the last one.
Your personality cannot take a 360 degree turn, but just a few little touches here and there can get the ball rolling.
The same rule applies in corporate culture. Are we all speaking the same language, essentially translates into does everybody think in the same direction, have similar values and are we moving towards a common objective. At work if somebody thinks radically different, dresses or behaves unlike everyone else, then he is quickly labelled an eccentric. Without as much as giving the chance of something creative that could solve the problem in a much easier way, bosses would much rather go the beaten path.
Whenever somebody has had the courage to take the path less travelled, it has reaped success. But for that one needs total belief in that path.
I am usually good with gauging a person's personality with the impression i get from the first meeting. There have been several instances in my life where i have had to change my thoughts about a person, but eventually in time, i always go back to the first impression i had formed about him/her. This has helped me in life and i consider it as part of my sixth sense.
We take a lot of pain in keeping up our appearances in order to make a good impression whether its to our bosses, guests at a party or in-laws and relatives.
I guess that's why whenever I set foot into my own house after returning from a trip to my kid's school or a 2 week long vacation, the feeling is always of great relief. Its a place where i am ME. I dont have to care about appearances or impressions... i am just myself.
Why cant we shed our pre conceived notions and just accept people the way they are? Why do we judge people by the way they dress ? Why is it that when we travel we go with an open mind and are accepting of everything that comes our way. Is that the reason we enjoy our vacations so much ? Because we allow our mind to open up and breathe....
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