Perceptions are not always right. Your personality or behavior can betray you - good and bad.  Unfortunately, oftentimes, Perception is Reality. 

Even a person with good character can be misperceived.  A direct person can be labeled rude or inpatient and be of very high character.  A person who is friendly and amenable with everyone can be of low character. But perceptions can find us attracted to the friendly and put off by the direct. 

Your influence is part of the perception equation and why being responsible for our influence is so important for us individually.  

And never discount the power of context and the power it can have on clarity and perception.