How important is your reputation? What does it mean when someone says, “your reputation precedes you?” What can you do if you have a bad reputation? How do you get people to talk good about you behind your back?
You’re always building your reputation for good, bad or ugly each time you leave your house and start interacting with others. You’re leaving your mark one way or another. If you have to wonder what people might be saying about you when you’re not there then you probably should be thinking about how to leave a good lasting impression.
In my view, if you have to try then you’re probably a long way from getting to where you want to be, however, if I had to instill advice to someone, say, for instance, one of my sons then I’d probably start by saying first and foremost to be the kind of person that you would want to hang out with. Secondly, I would advise them to just be themselves, be their authentic wonderful selves. Don’t try to put on pretenses or be someone that you think others want you to be.
Next, I would suggest they learn to Listen to people with an open heart and a non-judgmental mind. Try to recognize when people are reaching out to you and trying to make a genuine connection. We all have a story to tell and we all want our story to be heard and felt by another person.
So often, people are busy wrapped up in their own lives, their own pain, their own point of view that they forget to make a genuine connection and just be with another person. If you can take a moment and slow down your habitual human responses and just really listen to the person you’re with, hear what they say and watch how they’re saying it. Then you won’t have to worry about your reputation at all. You will be remembered as a genuine, caring, authentic human being who is a great friend and a trusted confidant.
For sure, you’re building your reputation each and every day and if you start now on a sincere journey to re-connect to your colleagues, friends, family, and special loved ones then the rest of your life will pretty much take care of itself.
