Changing Faces: Professional Image Construction In Diverse Organizational Settings

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Abstract

I integrate social identity and impression management theories to capture the dual impact of personal characteristics and group affiliations on professional image construction. In so doing, I describe how and why individuals proactively negotiate their personal and social identities during interpersonal encounters. The model highlights the multilevel impact of credible and authentic professional image construction on intrapsychic, interpersonal, workgroup, and organizational outcomes.