In today’s knowledge economy your reputation is your stock-in-trade. It’s your most important asset that you own next to your health.

This is no misnomer. In today’s interconnected “news” always-on world, your name will arrive at a destination long before you do.

Unfortunately few people gives this a thought. But, some like the ancient philosopher Socrates did. Socrates (– 469 BC – 399 BC) said: “Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.”

Joseph Addison wrote: “Why you have to constantly work on your Reputation: Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object; unless it be still fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a perpetual succession of miracles rising into view”.

Stephen Covey spoke about sharpening the saw, others speak about constant learning and upgrading of your own repertoire of skills. My blog updates aims to help you to keep your own saw sharpened.

These quotes are backed up by the “Oracle of Oklahoma” Mr. Warren Buffett . Mr. Buffett is famous for this quote:

The key statement here is that ” you’ll do things differently”

The implications of these quotes is that your name – your reputation is something that needs constant work just like a gardener attending to his flower beds. Like as in gardening it does not take much for weeds to grow, pests to come and flowers to wilt.

Personal Reputation boils down to three crucial elements:

1. Know-how (Your intellectual capital i.e. what you know);

2. A Network of contacts (Social Capital – who you know);

3. Your Reputation (Reputational Capital – who trusts you).

The key for any person who is interested to build their own reputation is to work on these elements as part of their own career development plan.

It is interesting and disconcerting that I often get emails from managers who tell me that they do not wish to receive information about Reputation. I chuckle, because these are the managers who are going to find it increasingly difficult in the years to come. In a society where intangibles rule, where the common currency for trust is reputation, more and more organizations are including management of reputation into KPA’s.

Learning how to manage reputation and mitigate this risk – Reputation Risk should be on your To-Do list, that is if you want to remain current and relevant.

Constant attention and vigilance is needed if you want to maintain and safeguard your reputation. Do you know what drives your reputation? Do you know what can add or subtract from that reputation?

Read my blog posts and sign up for my training and learn how to boost and safeguard your own reputation.

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The definition of a professional is to adhere to the many standards of your career area (written, unwritten, ethical and otherwise) regardless of where and when or for whom you work.

I recently had to ask delegates to do this.

Please take a moment to reflect on your own behaviour since the workshop:

1. Have you acted as a true professional in your dealings with clients and colleagues?
2. Have you executed your tasks following the maxim: ” We must do it right the first time round”?
3. Have you maintained a professional, friendly, helpful and positive attitude at all times?
4. Have you projected a professional self and company image?
5. Have you conversed with all those you come in contact with – in a professional manner?
6. Are you proud of the work that you have delivered to date?
7. Did you demonstrate competence and integrity whilst on site?
8. Did you carry out all your tasks to the best of your abilities?
9. Can your Company be proud of your actions?
10. In the final analysis, did you provide quality customer service?

Only you can answer these questions. Be honest with yourself. All development starts with self development. It starts with you.

The process of developing yourself is the hallmark of being a true professional.

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I was quoted in an article in the Finweek mag of 23 February “How to manage your own reputation – Your Reputation is your most important asset. Don’t squander it”. It was also translated into Afrikaans in the Beeld newspaper Page 18

The post I was quoted in an article in the Finweek mag of 23 February “How to manage your own reputation – Your Reputation is your most important asset. Don’t squander it”. It was also translated into Afrikaans in the Beeld newspaper Page 18 [Announcement] appeared first on Deon Binneman.

The increased usage of technology and growth of Social Media has really changed the landscape for the Reputation Manager. Reputation Managers now have to place more importance on E- Reputation or so-called Digital or Online Reputation Management.

What is E- reputation? If we merge the definition of Public Relations with the rise in new technologies, then we can define Public Relations as the management, through (Electronic) communication, of perceptions and strategic relationships between an organisation and its internal and external stakeholders. (Although reputation is far more holistic than PR – let us stick with this)

No longer are knowledge of just e-mail and internet search and the use of Microsoft products minimum requirements. Now days a competent Reputation Manager needs to know not only the above, but also how to protect his or her organisation from cyber risks and electronic onslaughts to damage their reputation.

This onslaught can take many forms. They range from copyright issues to viruses to wrongful statements on Twitter. Somewhere an employee can be traced accessing pornography or somewhere else an employee can make a genuine mistake and attach a sensitive file to the wrong e-mail creating unwanted publicity. Or even worse, your own child can be held responsible for downloading music from the Net!

The rising use of Social Media and technologies obviously raises a challenge for the Reputation Manager. At the same time the Reputation Manager has to find ways to use technology to maximise the Reputation of the organisation.

This means going on a steep learning curve. It means learning about new technologies such as Snapchat and other Social Networks, augmented reality, latest SEO techniques, mobile web site design, and the impact this has on reputation(and vice versa).

For instance I don’t have “expert” web design and html skills, but having an understanding of the medium and knowing the terminology/basics has been critical for my job. Also adapting my reputation judgment to the type of media and expediency of the delivery is important.

Reputation Managers will need to learn the importance of digital liaison and community groups, they will need to learn how to write for these new types of media and how to use these technologies to engage their stakeholders..

They will also need to understand the risks that these new technologies bring to the table. For instance how do you control* the flow of messages and content, since the Internet allows communication in many new ways such as using Slack or WeChat to name just a few. Reputation managers should be prepared to understand how these tools work, how to maximize their success with them, and what the limitations are of each.

Really good search skills will be needed so they can easily acquire information, skills needed to monitor online news and information and discussions as close to real time as possible.

Footnote; I am currently upgrading my own skills and doing a Social Media Marketing Certification course through the Silicon Valley Social Media Marketing Institute. There is also certification courses available through Hootsuite and the Hubspot, one of my preferred sources of social media information.

Here is a link to a good resource Google Reputation Recovery Repair Kit in one simple infographic https://reputationrefinery.com/google-reputation-repair-kit

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Researchers in systems thinking speak about leverage points – those small, well-focused actions that can, when used at the right time and in the right place, produce significant, lasting benefits exponentially beyond the effort required to take the action step itself.

What are the benefits of leverage points?

• How can a person learn quickly and efficiently? By learning from others what works for them. By implementing best practice techniques.
• How can you benchmark your own efforts? By measuring yourself against what others are doing.
• How can you increase your chances of success? By leaning from those who are successful you can shorten your own learning curve and the path to success in your chosen endeavor.

Consider the alternative!

• Trial and error
• A Long Learning Curve
• Going to a bookshop and/or library and reading all the books on reputation management and consulting until you believe you are competent.

In my workshops, newsletters and blog posts I share tips, tools and techniques that provide leverage points for my audience. Look out on Twitter and LinkedIn for the tips I share.

Hashtags #MYP – Consulting Marketing Tips/ #SRM – Stakeholder and Reputation Management Tips

Example: #MYP Tip – What products could you develop for yourself and sell so that you are not bound to specific trading hours?

Example: Quote – “Constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself-” – Elon Musk. I have always been interested in how to do things faster and more elegantly, especially since I operate as a one man business and have to do everything myself. I favor the GTD method of David Allen, and use the 3-most important things method. I find the GTD Weekly review of great value in managing my practice and life.

How about you? GOT TIPS you’d like to share with other readers? Email me at deonbin(at)icon.co.za

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