Impression management

When travelling, you will encounter many other people. Many of them will be keenly aware of the pressure that seems to be exerted on them. Pressure makes people tend to inflate signals that demonstrate performance. In short, on your journey you will encounter others who will tell the tale of having climbed the highest peaks, wrestled the wildest animals, and found the most beautiful spot. If this inspires you, listen on. If it does not, disregard them.

Since motivation and drive are at a premium in challenging projects, try to protect yours as well as possible. If you encounter other researchers who not only tend to tire you with their stories but regard your own project as much less impressive, significant, necessary, or valuable, stand up and choose another camp fire to sit down at. If at all possible, do not carelessly engage in bragging yourself—even if you have something to brag about.

Research means that you are in a community in which many people around you are faced with some of the most challenging intellectual problems they have ever confronted themselves with. They are under pressure, and most do not thrive on increasing this pressure. Impression management increases this pressure and leads us down the least attractive path.

(This is a preview section. The full chapter on this topic continues with the sections “Rough coordinates”, “Train of thought”, “In essence”, “To reflect”, “Two travellers’ tales”, “Devil’s advocate”, and “How to tackle”.)