The correlation between job-focused tactics and image among advertising and sales professionals

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between job-focused tactics and image (specifically, competence and workplace arrogance) among advertising and sales professionals. A sample of 102 respondents from advertising agencies and real estate companies was obtained through a purposive sampling scheme. The study employed a one-shot survey cross-sectional design. The findings revealed a significant moderate relationship between jobfocused tactics and workplace arrogance (r = .482; n = 102; p = .000), a significant strong negative relationship between competence and workplace arrogance (r = -.435; n = 102; p = .000), and no significant relationship between job-focused tactics and competence (r = -.037; n = 102; p = .710). The results suggest that image of competence and arrogance is predicted by job-focused tactics. This suggests that employees use impression management tactics to mask their incompetency at work. Furthermore, the results imply that organizations must carefully evaluate their job promotion decisions; thereby assessing employees based on actual competence rather than impressions alone.