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How the Mere Exposure Effect Shapes Your Office Reputation
Description
In this episode of The Office Politics Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the Mere Exposure Effect — the psychological principle that simply seeing someone more often makes us like them more. They break down a real-world case: how a mid-level marketing manager at a Fortune 500 company turned a reputation from 'new face, no opinion' to 'the person you want on your project' by strategically increasing her visibility in low-stakes, neutral settings like cross-team stand-ups and the office kitchenette. The hosts discuss the research behind the effect, including a 1968 study by social psychologist Robert Zajonc that showed repeated exposure to nonsense words increased their positive rating. They also draw a contrast with the Spotlight Effect (covered in Ep 105), noting that mere exposure works best when people barely notice your presence — not when you try to make a big impression. Practical advice: show up to optional meetings, be the note-taker in shared docs, and say hello to colleagues in the hallway without trying to pitch anything. No fluff, no jargon — just actionable influence tactics grounded in behavioral science.