HOW IS YOUR REPUTATION ON-LINE... and OFF?

We are living in a new world. There literally are no secrets! Professors and doctors these days have open reviews about their teaching and services. Every restaurant has to live up to higher standards and stay on top of YELP and other online criticisms, and even though we get to control the people who praise us up and down on Linked in, the second we have to hire anyone, there are former employees sharing their stories.

I recently came across an opportunity for business development services online. This company looked absolutely amazing and a good fit for me and my skills. I have done business development for many clients in addition to coaching in speaking, career strategy, and reputation management.

I like to talk and connect people. And I know a TON of people from LA to Silicon Valley to NYC, and from entertainment to agents to authors and experts. That happens to most of us who have been around for a while.

So I find this absolutely AMAZING company. But the references are VERY VERY bad. It was enough to completely scare me away and then I remembered how many clients that I have helped, either recreate their image online or in person, and how many people have changed dramatically by learning a few skills or doing a few things differently.

I worked with many individuals who were just way too busy to get in the weeds with employees and get to know them. A simple change of meeting with the interns once a month, or bringing flowers to admin staff, changed the reputation of individuals in their companies.

I’ve had other clients who became very flustered, upset, mad, angry, and the like, and came up with a strategy with his co workers that when that happened, they mention ONE word: like "BANANNA" or "TREE"- really any word will do, to break the pattern and to STOP the nonsense and go quiet instead of presenting anger. Patterns HAVE to be dropped or changed in order to create calmness in some situations.

In this particular company, the online hiring app who lets people talk openly about salaries and personalities, is going to SQUASH this company. There are even reviews that suggest that the GOOD ones there are completely FAKE.

But, knowing also that there are SMEAR campaigns that also take place, I did something that I hope will be of help and not in an open forum. I quietly emailed the CEO who the complaints are about, and shared with him/ or her, that I noticed some reviews, and that I wasn’t prejudging, but that I was happy to speak with him/her about coaching, and recreating his/her brand. I did suggest that they needed REPUTATION management -whether the events were true or NOT.

I recently worked with another person who broke the heart of someone else, and their ex hired an off-shore PR company to SMEAR my client’s name. I helped this person come out BOLD and share the details. It has had a happy ending.

Thanks to the internet we ALL have better accountability now. No more tirades in the office for anyone to hear about. No more messy scandals. No more discrimination that gets swept under the rug.

If you or your company have dealt with unlikeable bosses, or individuals who don’t treat others fare, before long, the whole world will know. You can now post anonymously and spare others from suffering from unjust treatment. You can tweet to companies and get things resolved quickly, and you can get support from others if they've had the same experience. You are now, NOT ALONE.

Sometimes it’s a simple tweak of learning how to lead a different generation like Millennials, or maybe sometimes it is putting more fun or balance into your life or even getting healthier through vitamins. Whatever it is, personalities CAN change and then ultimately reputations WILL improve.

It’s just the click of your mouse to correct your online reputation. And just a tweak of your communication, to repair your in-person ones too. Perhaps it’s time to make the tweak. Let me know if I can help! I am just a call or email away from recreating YOUR PERSONAL BRAND! [email protected]