Abstract:
Western literature established that employees’ impression management is geared towards
achieving tangible work benefits; Asian literature highlighted a high concern in
maintaining the face or impression due to societal expectations. These propositions reveal
possible cultural differences however, despite rising interest in workplace impression
management, studies among Asian employees remain lacking. Thus, this study aims to
contribute to the field by identifying the upward and lateral impression management
behaviors of Filipino public elementary school teachers from a municipality in
Pangasinan using self-presentation theory and face theory. To understand the participants’
perceptions and lived experiences, the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
design was used. Qualitative data was collected via pagtatanong-tanong from 12
participants purposively selected for this study. New self-presentation tactics not backed
by previous research emerged from the data. These new set of tactics include (a)
comforting colleagues and approachability under ingratiation; (b) doing their best,
making decisions independently bypassing supervisor’s approval, and pursuing further
education under self-promotion; and, (c) approachability, not boasting achievements, and
being non-confrontational under supplication. Finally, aside from rewards and
recognition, the maintenance of good workplace relationships is also one of the identified
possible motivators for impression management. These findings support the claims that
Asians may not only prioritize work-related benefits but also the relational and
interpersonal effects of their impression management.
