Hi Erik,
I am not sure if you can change people’s perceptions…in my situation folks like you were called “implants”. What I can tell though is that the ones who were able to blend in nicely into the target company were embraced and appreciated regardless. The key is just to make sure you are building rapport and managing relationships in a way that communicates you are aligned with the company and everyone’s best interest. The rumors dissipate over time once you pass the “trust test”!
