Lately, I’m noticing that more and more people in my programs ask me the same question: How do I repair my reputation if it is not how I want to be perceived, or it’s not an accurate reflection of who I am?
Maybe you made a mistake… or perhaps some of your actions have led people to perceive you in a way that is not aligned with who you are and how you want to be perceived. Believe me, you are not alone! The good news is you can repair your reputation and intentionally drive your efforts to achieve your desired reputation.
If you need a little more background on what reputation is and how to drive it, here is an article I wrote “Reputation Is Your Greatest Asset”
Step #1: Own your past
Take personal accountability, and own the choices you made which led to your reputation. This is undoubtedly a huge and very difficult first step. But it’s powerful to understand why you’re in this situation and how you got here.
Step #2: Create an action plan
Seek feedback, then analyze it, define your desired reputation, understand where you are right now, and clearly establish steps that you can take today to achieve your desired reputation.
Step #3: Aim for consistency and authenticity, not perfection
Understand that none of us can be perfect, but we need to be consistent and authentic in how we act, in our values, and our words. That way, we will gain credibility and trust. Always remember my formula for credibility: Values + actions = credibility
Step #4: Ask for feedback
It’s important to know if the changes in your relationships and behavior are moving perception towards a more positive view of you and your value. Ask for feedback to carefully analyze the reputation you’re earning, and correct your strategy if you find yourself off course or not making improvement fast enough.
I know this is a sensitive topic for many of us. The idea that we could be misunderstood or misaligned with our desired reputation hurts. If you need additional support or tools, check out some of my videos on YouTube. These, in particular, will be very helpful:
Or, you can take my online course “Repairing Your Reputation” on LinkedIn Learning.
And, I’m always here if you need to speak one-on-one about your individual situation. Feel free to contact me and my team at Info@LIDA360.com.
