The record that doesn’t need reciting
Everything the partner did not do can be written down, dated, kept. Said out loud in the room it stops being proof and turns back into my claim about his conduct, and a claim is a thing the other side
Erving Goffman
Meaning
A sociologist who established foundational concepts in microsociology, particularly the study of social interaction and the presentation of self in everyday life. Erving Goffman introduced the idea of “face” as the positive social value a person claims for themselves during an interaction, and “face-work” as the actions people take to maintain their own face and the face of others. His work describes the subtle, cooperative efforts individuals make to preserve social order and mutual regard in encounters, often without conscious intent.
This theoretical framework provides a lens for analyzing the unstated rules and costs of social engagements.
Interactional Theory
Goffman’s contributions to interactional theory illuminate the mechanisms by which individuals manage their identities and reputations in social settings. For a founder, understanding these mechanisms can clarify the hidden costs associated with interpersonal interactions, such as the energy expended in maintaining appearances or navigating awkward situations. His theories explain why certain conversations are avoided or softened, even when directness might seem more efficient from a purely business perspective.
Concept of Face
A central concept in Goffman’s work is “face,” which refers to the public image or self-esteem that individuals project and defend during social encounters. The cost of a threat to face is often an immediate defensive reaction from the individual, and a cooperative effort by others present to mitigate the threat. This concept highlights how even purely transactional interactions between a founder and a partner are often overlaid with considerations of social standing and mutual respect.
Face-work Mechanism
The mechanism of face-work involves a series of often unconscious actions performed by participants in an exchange to prevent or repair damage to face. This can include subtle gestures, shifts in tone, or strategic omissions in conversation. For a founder, recognizing face-work helps explain why direct recitals of non-performance can be highly disruptive, incurring costs in relational friction, even when factual.
The collaborative nature of face-work means that all parties contribute to maintaining social harmony, often at the expense of direct communication.