Simple ways to bullet-proof your reputation

"It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - Warren Buffett

YOUR reputation is an intangible thing. But without a positive one, you stand to lose all credibility. And that spells career derailment.

Some even say that what you really are is a result of your character. How others perceive you becomes your reputation.

So why is having a good reputation so important in business?

Or let's put it another way. Would you buy something from or work for someone who has a less than desirable reputation? I think not.

Your reputation therefore becomes your essential asset. Each action and decision we make has an impact on it. But it is the most fragile asset we hold as well.

A company prospectus even highlights reputational risk as something a potential shareholder needs to consider for the long-term value of their investment.

So let's take a look at the components of reputation and how you can mitigate your own reputational risk.

Talking the talk and walking the walk

Credibility

The first of these is credibility. Credible people are those whom others believe in.

Without credibility, you'll find that your judgements or even the "facts" you present are mistrusted. You will then fail to inspire confidence in others.

If somebody's statements don't align with their behaviour, or if they profess ideals they don't uphold, or if they make promises they don't keep, then we don't trust them.

In an age of "fake news" we are more careful in accepting the truth of what we hear from the credibility of the source we hear it from rather than accepting it on face value.

Trust & Integrity

The second component is trust and integrity. How do we decide if we trust someone and whether they have high integrity?

Research psychologist, and author of The Integrity Dividend, Tony Simons argues that the question involves first making a judgement of someone's behavioural integrity, based on their past actions, and perceived credibility.

His research reveals that businesses led by managers of higher integrity enjoy deeper employee commitment, lower turnover, superior customer service, and substantially higher profitability. This improved performance is the "integrity dividend".

The anticipated behaviour you might expect from someone is based on their perceived behavioural integrity and perceived credibility.

Behavioural integrity is ascertained by asking:

• What did they say in the past?
• Did their actions align with their words?

Credibility is determined by asking:

• Do I think they are a good person? (Perceived benevolence)
• Do I think they can get the job done? (Perceived competence)

Anticipated behaviour from someone else is then predicted by asking:

• Do I think they will keep or break their word? (Perceived honesty)

If you believe that people are suspicious of your behaviour, then you need to critically self-reflect on the how your integrity and credibility is being perceived from your past actions.

Be aware of the negative consequences of gossip

Office gossip is so widespread that you would hardly imagine that by participating in it that you could be affecting your reputation.

Well, depending on how malicious it gets, you can, without knowing it, affect someone's reputation this way.

"Be loyal to those who are not present. In doing so, you build the trust of those who are present. - Stephen Covey.

You can also affect your own reputation as those who are listening will start to assume that you will be talking about them in a negative way to someone else.

So while some gossip can be a healthy way of off-loading your concerns onto others and building rapport with another colleague, it can have very negative consequences. Be careful how what you say is interpreted.

Reputation is everything

Your reputation precedes you so the old saying goes, but it's essential to make it a good one for sustainable success in professional life, relationships, and your career.

Having already a solid reputation will make it more difficult for someone else to tear it down. Those who try to do that often have poor self-esteem and like to make themselves look good by putting others down. Beware of these people. They can be quite toxic in the workplace.

Having a positive reputation will make it easier to get connections for networking, and make your personal and professional branding stand out from the crowd. You will be recognised as someone who brings great value to a work team and an organisation.

All this adds up to keeping and protecting your highest possible reputation. And this stems from being a person of good character.

Abraham Lincoln summed it up: "Character is like a tree, and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."