Whatever your views on the current global crisis, all things must come to an end. How the end affects you, and what comes after, to a large extent, is up to you. You can write your own story, far more than you may realise.
However, one thing I can promise you, is that having a rock-solid reputation will help you make the best of what is to come, for seven main reasons.
- If you have a strong reputation, you will have more clarity than most. Many of your decisions will be framed in the context of your reputational goals. This will allow you to move forward with greater certainty, whatever happens. Without this clarity, indecision will pervade, and opportunities will be lost.
- People in your network with know what they can expect from you. There will be no doubt in their mind, how best to deploy you, support you, gain value from you. Provided of course that you have taken your reputation to market effectively.
- You’ll be at or near the top of your field, whatever that might be. Rather than just one of the crowd, you will stand out and be more distinctive. Hiring executives will be more concerned about how to entice you into their team. Without this, I’m afraid you’ll just be applying for jobs along with all the rest of your competition.
- Speaking of which, a distinctive reputation, well-positioned, will attract attention. Instead of having to network in desperation, opportunities will come to you when you start to send the right signals. Sure, you’ll still have to put some effort in, but hopefully most of that will be in opportunity selection.
- If here is a big shake-up in staffing, those with valued reputations will fare much better – unless you’re way to expensive for their future needs! Seriously though, if your reputation is strong and well-suited, they’ll be looking for ways to further utilise your energy and skill, rather than pooling you into the “at risk” group.
- With a clear sense of your distinctiveness, and clear aspirations, even if you’re not being structured out, the world we are stepping into is going to be full of opportunities for forward thinking and proactive people. Maybe now is a good time to ramp up your career progress and be courageous. If you’ve already attended to your reputation building, you’re ready to go right now.
- Confidence, gravitas and poise will be part of your normal. Having done the work to design and build a reputation, you will know what you stand for, what you love to do, who you love to do it for and relaxed in your interactions with people. Fear, uncertainty and doubt – well that’s left for those who have yet to do the work.
The questions for you to toy with now include:
- How good is your reputation?
- Is it (still) fit-for-purpose?
- Would it be wise to re-position to exploit new opportunities?
- What gaps are there that need to be filled?
- How can you bolster your reputational substance in the light of recent experience?
- Do you have the right tools for the job?
Whatever happens, however you are currently positioned, even a little attention to this topic will bear fruit and put you in a better place.
If you wish to get serious about this topic, for this month only (May 2021) I am opening the doors to my Building a Powerful Reputation online course. Normally only available to Private Clients, I’ve decided to open this up because I sense it could be timely for many people to turn their attention to their reputation and give them the edge, whatever is just around the corner.
Building a Powerful Reputation
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