The way people see you isn't just random or a coincidence, it is shaped by something which eventually shows in every conversation, relationship, and opportunity and it is the reason for some people to be respected and some ignored no matter what they do. People have learn how to make people see them in good light, they have mastered how to influence people's perception about them and people who are able to do this, tend to be successful.
Everyone has a reputation which speaks the unspoken words for them even when they do not say a thing. The truth about reputation is that it wasn't built in a day or a month, it is a combination of the people around, friendships, relationships, jobs, and communication over time. Your reputation has already being built and is still being built by every actions, decisions, and words you say in public or in private and people take note of these things but are you controlling the narrative or you are not?
You might think you are the smartest in the room but people see you as one who talks too much and thinks they know things when they don't, or you might think you are the life of the party but people just see you as being arrogant. You can either have a reputation that works for you or against you and it is left to you to control the narrative. With a strong reputation, you do not need to fight for respect rather it is given to you and this can lead to more opportunities, influence, and connection because you do not need to prove yourself, rather people believe in you already before you talk.
You are not judged based on reality, rather you are judged based on perception. A gold presented in a rough box by a person wearing rag will be confused for a metal with yellow gold painting while a metal in yellow gold painting, placed in a nice and secured box, and presented by a person in an expensive suit will be taken for gold. This is because of perception. Just like the illustration above, people do judge you based on what they think you are, they judge you based on what they perceive you to be.
Ability isn't the only thing, perception plays a lot in how people see you. If someone speaks highly of you, whoever is listening already places you on a high pedestal before you arrive and if somebody describes you as untrustworthy and unimpressive, the listener will not be excited to meet you at all.
People need an idea of who you are when they first see you, so when they do not have anything to look out for, they look at your posture, your dressing, the confidence when you talk, and so on. But do not dwell on the first impression too long because first impression do not matter a lot rather it is how you are remembered over time. You either take control of your narrative or someone else will do so for you. If you do not shape how people see you, they will paint their thoughts on your blank canvas and it will not be nice thoughts because they do not have something great to remember you for.
How people see you is in their heart and it can either be for or against you but you can control the narrative through your actions. If you want to be trusted, do not break your word and people will trust you, if you continually share your knowledge and insight, you will be seen as an expert, and if you start acting like a leader even before you become one, people will refer to you as a leader before the title is conferred on you.