Power of Perception.
Did you see the photo of Ukraine's president in military gear doing the rounds on social media?
Now we all know that the best use of a President's time and talent in a war situation is not to pick up the gun and fight. As the President of a crisis-struck country, Volodymyr Zelensky is surely doing a zillion other things that are more critical and impactful.
Yet, that one picture, even if symbolic, is of immense value to Ukraine. How?
By fueling a beneficial perception.
- It portrays Zelensky as a brave leader.
- It signals to the enemy his resolve to fight.
- It motivates thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians to not give up.
- It earns Ukraine the solidarity of the globe
That's the power of perception. A relatively unknown national leader a week back, Zelensky is today an international hero. And for all the right reasons, I think.
Perceptions don't exist in vaccum but they can be curated and sharpened.
Well orchestrated perceptions CAN feel like reality when the following align in our cognition:
1. Context: being the one who has been attacked, we expect Zelensky to stand up and take the challenge. That's what heroes do.
2. Action: his other actions (like asking for arms when offered evacuation by the US, his appeal for immediate EU admission) bolster his image as a brave leader.
3. Narrative: the narratives associated with Zelensky - both self created (his address to Russians, his video post to quell the rumor of him having left the country) and the one propogated by mainstream media and established global institutions - further support the image.
Now, do a thought experiment with me.
Imagine a picture of Vladimir Putin in military uniform and holding a gun. What perception does it create in your mind?
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