Ramp Up Your Reputation

Estimated 3 minute read time

As a recruitment is a relationship-based business, reputation is an important part of your success. So how do we get it right? On Episode 9 of The Skill Point Podcast I talked to Gordon Stoddart from (TRN) The Recruitment Network about how we can build reputations to our advantage.?

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Where does reputation come from??

Your reputation comes from your relationships. Gordon explained that your reputation is built from the emotional connection that people have as a result of the experiences they've had with you. It’s a direct output of the interactions they have with you. An awareness of your reputation will drive your behaviours, because as Gordon said, “reputation is an emotional strategy.”

How can you build your reputation??

Once a reputation is damaged it’s a lot harder to repair, so rule number one is do everything you can not to have a service breakdown. Offering alternative solutions and being honest about your limitations will grow your credibility, even if it costs you revenue.?

Rule number two is always get feedback. If you’re constantly gathering feedback from the people you work with, you’ll quickly see if something is going wrong, and be able to address any concerns before they become frustrations. Use that feedback to ensure that the same mistake doesn’t happen twice, because that will hurt your reputation.?

Feedback is also a great tool for creating a positive reputation for people who haven’t worked with you yet. If you’re able to showcase positive reviews or glowing recommendations, new customers are far more likely to buy into your offering.?

The third rule is to build an invested internal team. You need to find people who care about their role, then equip them to succeed. That starts with leadership and works its way down through the company until your whole team has a positive experience. Belief in your own excellence is the best foundation for a strong reputation.?

The fourth and final rule is to use customer journey mapping to transform your reputation. An end-to-end understanding of the customer experience will show you which touchpoints people are interacting with successfully and which need more work. Relationships are being formed even when you’re not present.?

How can you measure your reputation?

Gordon’s last piece of advice was to ask ‘what a great reputation means to you, and figure out what you want to happen as a result. Take those things and measure them.’ That's the best way to establish whether you’re meeting your own goals and upholding the standards that you set for yourself.?

To hear more about building a reputation in the recruitment industry, tune into The Skill Point Podcast here.?