Reputational Capital and 'YOUR' Brand

As business individuals we are aware of many types of 'brands'. These terms are generally used in business, marketing and advertising. As we are all active components in the business realm, we must also cultivate and monitor our professional brand. Yes, you are your brand!

Your reputational capital is an essential element of your brand. Your ‘brand' consists of your work experience, your education and training, and your reputational capital. Your reputational capital is the response to the following questions:

1. What do people think about you professionally?
2. What do people think of you, in general?
3. Whose name do one think of when referring to an expert in…?

Consider the following when fine-tuning your reputational capital.

1. Do what you say. People need to rely on what you state. Once you establish a reputation for ‘doing what you say’, people will go to bat for you. Here is a personal example of how my reputational capital worked for me even before I heard of the term. I was running late in picking up my son from daycare. The daycare policy was that if a parent did not show up by 6pm the daycare would call the authorities and turn the child over to the police. I was stuck in traffic. This was before cell phones. When the daycare director tried to get my son to come into the building so that she could call someone, he was adamant I was coming. I had never not picked my children up. The director bargained with my son and gave him 15 minutes more before she would call someone. With five minutes to spare, my car came around the corner and out I jumped adamantly apologizing about my lateness. My son knew that he could rely on my picking him up.
2. Do ‘it’ when you said you were going to do ‘it’. This is a tricky commitment. There are various reasons that can sidetrack us from keeping our word. Do not fret. The key is in your communication. You have to communicate when it looks as though you are not going to meet the time you committed too. People are very understanding as long as they know what is going on, and when to expect whatever ‘it’ is.
3. Listen. Listen, Listen. Some of the most respected people are people of a few words. People respect those who listen to understand instead of listening to respond.  People can tell if you are truly listening to them by the questions that you ask or do not ask.   Work hard to develop a reputation where you are known to listen attentively. Your respect will be obtained when those talking realize that you heard exactly what they were saying.
4. Never allow your knowledge to be static, keep your industry knowledge fluid. People who stay current of the latest terms and resources in their industry enjoy talking to others who value being current as well.
5. Teach Others. Share what you know. You will find that others will reciprocate as well. There is no greater way to add value to your professional growth then to absorb the wisdom that others share along your journey.

That’s just my two cents.

Dr. Karen Hills Pruden, SPHR is a transformational speaker and organizational strategist. She believes that employers can successfully create unique solutions to organizational problems by changing how they view the issue. To contact, you may reach her at [email protected].

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