Relying on "good work" alone isn't enough.
Sure, the quality of your work serves as a necessary foundation from which to build a lasting impact. That said, the most critically important asset - far often overlooked and under-nurtured - that will unlock higher levels of career growth is your reputation.
I'm not just talking about having people know who you are. It's much more than that.
I'm talking about intentionally building an undeniable reputation that stands the test of time and creates continued possibilities personally and professionally.
I recently interviewed the Vice President, Product Management and Chief of Staff at Walmart Global Tech, Tricia Dallahan, touching on specifically this theme. She emphasized that building, and carefully guarding, her reputation was a major contributor in her ascent to executive leadership.
A solid reputation will serve you like a magnet, drawing opportunities, collaborations and growth your way.
Here's how.
Why does it matter so much?
Your reputation inescapably precedes you.
It can inspire respect, make your accomplishments appear effortless and command an unshakable belief in your potential. When done right, it opens doors that you may have otherwise thought were unlikely for you.
You must craft your own unique narrative, advocate for yourself and protect it at all costs. This process begins by asking yourself:
β What do you want to be known for?
ββ How do you want to make people feel when working with you?
ββ What legacy do you aspire to leave?
Your answers will immediately outline, and serve as a roadmap, for the person - or rather the reputation - you wish others to perceive of you. Reflect deeply on these questions as they will allow you to reverse-engineer what daily, proactive steps you can undertake in building yours.
5 principles to build your reputation
1/ Being respected > being liked
If you tend to be a people pleaser, you will dramatically limit the potential of building a stellar reputation. People pleasing establishes a firm precedent for yourself and limits how, and what, others believe you are capable of.
This could lead to:
- Mismanaging expectations for yourself.
- Lacking the necessary resilience to overcome hard things.
- Setting unrealistic standards for your capacity and workload.
- Being overlooked for promotions and advancement opportunities.
- Neglecting boundaries that allow you to focus on "promotable" tasks and projects.
Peak performers, by comparison, focus on being respected above all else. Why is that, and what anticipated outcomes do they seek?
β They excel in strong critical thinking and decision making.
β They seize their moments and bypass waiting for permission.
β They don't obsess over what others think of them or their decisions.
β They welcome making tough calls, challenge others to rise and see impediments as opportunities rather than roadblocks.
These may, at times, go against people pleasing but the distinction is clear.
Being liked = what can I do to make others happy while minimizing ruffling feathers?
Being respected = what can I do to expand trust, authority and expertise in my role?
Choose wisely.
2/ Solidify your personal brand
Building your reputation goes hand in hand with personal branding. Your personal brand communicates your unique strengths, values and contributions, all of which help establish you as a memorable, sought-after talent in your area of the business.
Consider your favourite brands such as Apple, Amazon or Netflix. What keywords immediately come to your mind when you think of them? Those are not accidental. They were built with intention through countless branding efforts. Similarly, how do you wish to position yourself towards how others view you?
To help you get started, consider these questions:
β What are 3 keywords that you want others to say of you in your absence?
β What would you want your boss to say of you to your organization's leadership team?
β What would you want external hiring managers to gather from your professional profile?
This exercise will instil a high level of intentionality into how you craft your personal brand and pursue actions that breathe life into your reputation.
It will also inspire the people who actually have an influence on your career trajectory in believing in the halo that accompanies you.
3/ Become an opportunity magnet
Imagine yourself being in a position in which opportunities flock towards you.
Imagine yourself being in a position in which leaders fight for you to join their teams.
Imagine yourself being in a position where you have an abundance of options for your next roles.
Instead of chasing opportunities, a strong reputation allows you to choose them and serves as a flywheel for your career. Here's how:
This flywheel becomes increasingly important as you grow into more senior roles where there are fewer seats at the top. Additionally, the qualities below magnify your opportunity pool as your career grows:
- Integrity: In time, others will undoubtedly recognize you as the person with a virtuous character. Become the only choice others seek to have join their teams.
- Consistency: Execute reliably, show up unconditionally and deliver quality results repeatedly. Win through your actions and distinguish yourself as someone who commits and follows through.
- Curiosity: Showcase a continued ability to learn and grow. Being adaptable, open-minded and innovative will help you be viewed as a key asset to any team.
While a great reputation will not always shield you from the challenges you encounter in your career, it will bolster your ability to weather difficult headwinds. Ultimately, an admirable reputation will draw others to stand by you during times of adversity, allowing you to rebound from setbacks more effectively.
4/ Create your cheer squad
Behind every peak performer is a network of advocates, champions and cheerleaders, meaning individuals who have a high level of influence and decision-making power within your company. These supporters serve you in several ways:
β They celebrate your achievements and further amplify your positive reputation.
β They motivate you to pursue new challenges that expand your professional opportunities.
β They offer tactical guidance on how to effectively navigate power structures and circles of influence within, and outside, your company.
β They provide honest, constructive feedback to further your growth and goals.
Mentors, peers and a network of advocates are crucial in shaping your perceived reputation so reflect on who these individuals would be for you in your company.
If you don't already have a 1:1 connection with them, take action to build this proactively.
For example, consider moments where you have exposure to them already and amplify from there. This could be following a town hall meeting, after a department wide gathering or even coming out of a status with your boss' boss to build on key objectives discussed. This is what my client did in her new role that led her to get chosen to moderate a major company wide Q&A with her COO just 6 months into her job.
5/ Advocate with confidence
Articulating your true value while maintaining a sense of self-assuredness can be tricky. Ensure that the reputation you are building lands in the way you intended it to be perceived.
Peak performers do not rely solely on others to build their reputation. Instead, they are catalysts that influence others to positively build it, broadcast it and add to it, alongside their own efforts to assertively define it.
Here are 3 ways you can do this for yourself:
β Seek alignment: Self-awareness is key in understanding your distinct strengths, skills and achievements. Reflect deeply, and honestly, about your contributions. Only then can you ensure that others view you, and your reputation, as you originally intended them to. Do so through 1:1 feedback moments, the accolades you receive and how your relationships develop.
β Practice intentionality: The confidence needed for self-advocacy stems from a genuine belief in your abilities and the unique contributions you have made. Find moments to shine rather than wait for moments to happen. For example, speak up effectively in important meetings, contribute to small and large scale work contexts with helpful value-added comments, and initiate impromptu conversations with key decision makers to name a few.
β Use "I" statements: Make your voice heard and frame your advocacy using "I" statements; be clear about your impact, the results you have generated within your team and for the business. Ensure that you are clearly distinguishing between what you've done and what your team has done so there's no ambiguity on your specific role in the end outcomes achieved.
[Check out my free LinkedIn Learning nano-course on How to advocate for yourself in your career]
How will you build your reputation?
Your reputation will take you far when built right. It's not a one-and-done kind of thing but rather, an always-on consideration as you grow in your career. Be intentional, proactive and strategic in how you show up for yourself as it will directly influence the reputation you create and the impact it has in achieving your goals.
You've got this!
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This week's mission is designed to build your reputation with confidence. Dedicate uninterrupted time at home or on a walk and record yourself answering the questions below. Follow-up by writing down an action plan for each and begin crafting a reputation that serves you best.
1/ Reflect on the following questions:
- What do you want to be known for?
- How do you want to make people feel when working with you?
- What legacy do you aspire to leave?
2/ Based on the above, intentionally craft the reputation you strive to have by defining a vocabulary, set of accomplishments and stories you consistently share.
- What are 5 qualities that you will use when describing yourself and your work to others?
- What are 3 accomplishments that you will highlight to reinforce who you are?
- What are 3 stories that you can regularly share as you network with influential individuals?
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