March 1, 2010 by Ginny
Filed under Personal Branding
“Your reputation precedes you!” This is true, for better or for worse. Sometimes people won’t be so gracious as to tell you when you have a “bad rep” as when it’s glowing. There are 3 Must-haves when building a reputation:
• Credibility – People need to know you are trustworthy, have good judgment and are responsible. It can be the little things like not being punctual or not responding to voicemails or e-mails in a timely fashion that can undermine your credibility by suggesting you don’t manage time well, are disorganized or are dismissive. My old firm had an unwritten rule that you always get back to a fellow colleague within 24 hours if at all possible. It really often is honoring spoken and unspoken rules.
• Capability – This is the horsepower to get the job done; it’s “what’s between your ears”! Subject matter expertise is always valued, but so is problem solving. It is not necessarily what you have already demonstrated or experienced, but it is how you figure it out how to win the day.
• Commitment – Having the first 2 attributes without your heart and head in the game won’t cut it. This can take the form of work ethic, passion or plain tenacity. Commitment can be demonstrated in many ways, but is almost always perceptible to all.