What is your reputation? That is, what do others say about you and think about you? And how do they treat you as a result?
My friend Mark Sieverkropp is serious about his reputation and it has paid off big time for him. He also loves to share his knowledge and ideas with others as he helps individuals and businesses grow and develop within their purpose and mission. So I asked him to share with you about building a great reputation.
Take it away Mark…
I’ve often asked myself, what is the most important thing that I can bring to my daily interactions? What attribute would do more for me than anything else?
After long thought and consideration, I have determined if I could bring one attribute with me to work, to Church, to social functions, it would be my reputation.
Without a good reputation, all the skills and attributes in the world are useless.
If you will carefully and deliberately build a great reputation, you will find it to be a priceless commodity in your life.
Money can’t buy a reputation
Here are three things that money can’t buy, but a great reputation can.
1. Trust. If you have developed a great reputation among your peers, leaders, acquaintances, and followers, they will trust you with their first-born child. Ok, that may be a bit extreme, but they would certainly be confident that you were a person on whom they could rely–and sadly, that’s a rare commodity these days.
2. Forgiveness. I don’t know about you, but every once in a while, I screw up. If you’ve developed a good reputation, those around you will be quick to forgive your shortcomings. You will be given the benefit of the doubt because of your track record. Personally, I’d like to have access to as much grace, forgiveness and good will as I can get my hands on, because I’m sure to need it at some point in time.
3. Your Own Sales Force. If folks learn that they can trust you and that you have a reputation as a good, honest individual, you will find that people will not only be willing to follow you, they will be your greatest promoters! They will tell others of your reputation. They will tell others of what you are doing, and encourage them to begin following you as well.
3 Tips to build a great reputation:
1. To Thine Own Self. Become known as a person that remains true to who you are.
2. Word/Action Alignment. Mean what you say and don’t make promises you can’t keep. Avoid the trap of making promises to make people happy. Only promise that which is completely within your power to accomplish. Make sure that your word is your bond. Seal million dollar deals with a handshake.
3. Serve. Your actions will be your greatest defender or your greatest hindrance. Your reputation will, undoubtedly speak loudly through your service to others. Never is your reputation and your authentic self more evident than when you’re helping another.
In the end, your reputation, your good name, is all that you can pass onto your children. And a good reputation will provide just as much comfort, happiness and contentment to a man’s life as any monetary endowment.
What are you doing to develop and maintain a great reputation?
If you enjoyed Mark’s writing today, check out his blog and follow him on Twitter.
Questions?
Text me anytime at (260) 217-4619.
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Another thing I’d add to building a solid reputation is “follow-through.” I know many great, trustworthy, fun people who have good reputations, but they don’t always follow-through. Think about a golf drive or tennis serve without follow-through. It won’t get you very far in either sport. In the world of music we called these people “flakes.” I make a point to do what I say. For instance, I wrote a book, “A Train Called Forgiveness.” That opened the door to a trilogy. I said I was going to write the trilogy. Now I have two books out and I’m halfway through the third. Follow-through.
You are so right Dan! I also know people that I trust and are great people…but you are never real sure when something will get done, or when they will call you back. Follow through is important. I think being realistic about your follow through is important too. Don’t say you’ll get something done for someone tomorrow if you aren’t completely sure you can! We have a tendency of liking the good feelings that come from making promises to people–but its more important to manage expectations and be sure you can deliver!
Thanks for reading!
For anyone who hasn’t checked into it yet, you should definitely add Dan’s books to your reading list.
Great post, Mark. What I’m doing to build my reputation is behaving like the person I want to be-come.
Awesome Katherine! Knowing who you want to be and where you want to be allows you to make the right commitments AND follow through on those commitments. And that is huge in building a great reputation! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Is it kind of like fake it until you make it? (I strongly believe in it)
My mission president would call this te “As If” principle. Act as if you feel a certain way, or act a certain way
Yes to both you and Mark.
I act as if I am who I want to be.
Great thoughts. Living with integrity matters. When we’re fake or when we don’t respond and act with integrity, our reputation goes right down the toilet.
I think living with integrity matters so much–if you don’t, nothing else matters!
Thanks for reading Jon!