Developing Your Professional Reputation

Whether you are just starting your career or wanting to take it to the next level, your reputation both follows and precedes you. Developing your reputation takes intention and effort. Everyone has a reputation. Developing the right reputation is the goal.

Here are some tips for developing a good professional reputation:

1.????? Define

You can go a long way if you start with defining what you want your professional reputation to look like. Who do you admire in your career? What are the traits they possess that you want to emulate? We are not talking about mimicking someone else, but developing in ourselves the traits we admire.

2.????? Deliver

It is important to your reputation that you become known as someone who is reliable and delivers results for your organization, profession, and network. Possibly nothing else will create a positive reputation more than delivering great results dependably.

3.????? Feedback

The best way to find out your needed areas of improvement is to ask for and embrace feedback from others. Everyone may not have your best interest in mind, but when you find those who do and whose input you value, get all the feedback you can and implement it.

4.????? Grow

Knowledge is growing at a greater exponential rate than ever before. Staying up to date on your knowledge, skills and abilities allows you to change with the times. Development is your own responsibility.

5.????? Network

We used to just call networking “making friends.” I like to take that approach. I want to make friends at networking events as well as other places. I want to help them in every way I can. That is my priority. If someday they can help me also, great. But I network to help others. Build your network before you need it.

By implementing these suggestions, you will be positively developing your professional reputation. Henry Ford famously said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” We have to execute on our plans and demonstrate our value.

By the way, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with fantastic clients the last two years while operating Pendulum Coaching. However, I have taken a full-time position with a company I have done some consulting with. I am very excited about this opportunity. I am continuing this monthly LinkedIn newsletter. I have also converted my weekly email newsletter to a monthly newsletter that is always a different topic than the LinkedIn newsletter. If you are interested in receiving the email newsletter you can just message me your email address and I can add you to the list.

David B. McLaughlin is an experienced member of the HR and Talent Development community and host of the podcast, The Mindful Leader.?But wait, there’s more! He just released his second blues album, The Stranger, available on all streaming platforms!?Find out more at thatsfantasticentertainment.com.